CERRE think tank Logo
  • About us
    • About CERRE
    • Our team
    • Board of Directors
    • Annual Review
    • Careers
    • Transparency & Independence
    • FAQs
  • Areas of expertise
    • Energy & Sustainability
    • Mobility
    • Tech, Media, Telecom
    • Cross-sector
  • Publications
  • Events
  • News
  • Membership
    • Our members
    • Become a member
  • Contact
Menu
  • About us
    • About CERRE
    • Our team
    • Board of Directors
    • Annual Review
    • Careers
    • Transparency & Independence
    • FAQs
  • Areas of expertise
    • Energy & Sustainability
    • Mobility
    • Tech, Media, Telecom
    • Cross-sector
  • Publications
  • Events
  • News
  • Membership
    • Our members
    • Become a member
  • Contact
Filter by Sectors





Optimal regulation for European DSOs to 2025 and beyond
Publications
#Energy & Sustainability

Optimal regulation for European DSOs to 2025 and beyond

  • April 30, 2021
Share.
Document(s)
REPORT | Optimal regulation for European DSOs to 2025 and beyond
PRESENTATION | Optimal regulation for European DSOs to 2025 and beyond

The European Union is committed to a target of net zero emissions by 2050, for which the energy tranistion will be crucial. As the EU Clean Energy for All Europeans Package (CEP) comes into force, this CERRE Energy & Climate report seeks to shed light on the nature of optimal regulation of the electricity distribution system operator (DSO) over the period to 2025 and beyond.

DSOs are rising in importance against the backdrop of the energy transition; recognised by the EU in the CEP. They play a key role managing the connection of increasingly distributed generation and flexibility resources, which means changing from their traditional role as a passive one-way network to an active two-way network.

The recommendations in this report are drawn from two parallel surveys of DSOs and their national regulatory authorities (NRAs), as well as a detailed comparison of six European countries. The nature of this study allowed the authors to directly compare responses, revealing a divergence of views between companies and regulators, and to look into other examples in practice (besides the European Commission’s vision) of supporting the transition to a more active DSO.

“The new EU DSO Entity should promote learning from individual DSO innovation projects across Europe. There are a lot out there, but it’s not clear at the moment who is learning from these projects or whether the collective learning is being adequately shared.” – Co-author of the report, Professor Michael Pollitt

With this more active role for DSOs in mind, the authors, Professor Michael Pollitt, Professor Monica Giulietti and Dr. Karim Anaya, suggest a major role for the new EU DSO Entity in evaluating, sharing and being open to useful lessons from DSO-related projects elsewhere. They also recommend further regulatory clarification, particularly within the CEP, which could map out the best way forward and address the disagreement in expectations (revealed by the surveys) for the future and optimal regulation of DSOs.

“Reforming decentralised energy markets is work in progress and there is a lot of learning to be done.” – Co-author of the report, Professor Monica Giulietti.

The authors conclude that moving towards a more active role for the DSO remains a work in progress for both DSOs and NRAs and they provide clear recommendations for the way forward, facilitating a period of learning for both the Commission and NRAs, and greater clarity when it comes to the interpretation and implementation of the CEP.

The report was presented and debated amongst speakers from industry, regulatory authorities, the European institutions and academia during a CERRE online event, “How fit is DSO regulation for a decarbonised Europe? Empirical assessment and regulatory pathways”, on 30 April 2021.

Author(s)
Loading...
Michael Pollitt
Michael Pollitt
CERRE Academic Co-Director
University of Cambridge
Monica Giulietti
Monica Giulietti
CERRE Research Fellow
Loughborough University

Monica Giulietti is a CERRE Research Fellow and Professor of Microeconomics at the University of Loughborough’s School of Business and Economics, where she heads the Economics Discipline Group focusing primarily of energy economics and regulation.

Previously, she worked at the universities of Warwick, Nottingham, Aston and Exeter. Throughout her career, she has frequently published in international journals and conducted research work for several governmental institutions and organisations.

Karim Anaya
Karim Anaya
Senior Research Associate in Energy Economics
University of Cambridge

Karim Anaya is a Senior Research Associate at the Energy Policy Research Group (EPRG), University of Cambridge. She holds a Doctoral Degree in Energy Economics and Master’s Degree in Technology Policy from University of Cambridge, Judge Business School.

Karim has over 15 years’ experience working in the public utility regulatory arena with a focus on energy, telecommunications, and water. She has advised different organisations and companies such as the United Nations, World Bank, public utilities regulators, and energy companies.

Her most recent work relates to future electricity network regulation and local electricity markets. She has published several peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters.

More publications

on #Energy & Sustainability

Recommendations for a Future-Proof Electricity Market Design
16 December 2022

Energy & Sustainability

Energy Data Sharing and the Case of EV Smart Charging
19 October 2022

Energy & Sustainability

The European Wholesale Electricity Market: From Crisis to Net Zero
11 October 2022

Energy & Sustainability

The Active Distribution System Operator (DSO)
27 September 2022

Energy & Sustainability

Retail Energy Markets Under Stress
13 July 2022

Energy & Sustainability

Data Centres and the Grid – Greening ICT in Europe
12 October 2021

Cross-sector

.

Energy & Sustainability

.

Tech, Media, Telecom

Revision of the Renewable Energy Directive (REDII): How to improve tendering, planning and tracking rules to deliver the European Green Deal
9 July 2021

Energy & Sustainability

Electricity and gas coupling in a decarbonised economy
16 March 2021

Energy & Sustainability

Feasibility and impacts of EU ETS scope extension: Road transport and buildings
15 December 2020

Energy & Sustainability

State aid guidelines for environmental protection and energy (EEAG): review process, possible changes and opportunities
22 September 2020

Energy & Sustainability

Stay informed

Subscribe to our newsletters for our latest updates

Subscribe now

Centre on Regulation in Europe asbl (CERRE)

Avenue Louise, 475 (box 10)
B-1050 Brussels – Belgium
T.: +3222308360
E-mail: info@cerre.eu  

Twitter Linkedin-in Youtube
  • Copyright CERRE 2010-2021
  • BE 0824446055 RPM Bruxelles
About
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Board of Directors
  • Annual review
  • Careers
  • Transparency & Independence
  • FAQs
Expertise
  • Energy & Sustainability
  • Tech, Media, Telecom
  • Mobility
  • Cross-sector
More
  • Publications
  • Events
  • News & Insights
  • Privacy & Legals

Centre on Regulation in Europe asbl (CERRE)

Avenue Louise, 475 (box 10)
B-1050 Brussels – Belgium
T.: +3222308360
E-mail: info@cerre.eu 

BE 0824446055 RPM Bruxelles

Twitter Linkedin-in Youtube
About
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Board of directors
  • Annual review
  • Careers
  • Transparency & Independence
  • FAQs
Expertise
  • Energy & Sustainability
  • Tech, Media, Telecom
  • Mobility
  • Cross-sector
More
  • Publications
  • Events
  • News & insights
  • Our members
  • Become a member

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience.

OK
CERRE Privacy Policy