Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | 15TH - 21ST DECEMBER 2017 | 23 Operations & Assets Flexibility Plan in June, and more recently Ofgem's working papers on charging and connection arrangements. "I would like to recognise the huge amount of work Ofgem and the government have done in this space over the past year or so," says Georgiopoulos. "The Smart Sys- tems and Flexibility Plan is giving us some clear actions and some clear directions to work in." Erwin says the connections paper in par- ticular was "a really thoughtful piece of work and is addressing exactly the right kind of questions. The proof will be in the pudding, but I think Ofgem is doing exactly the right thing there. I'm very impressed". Cox describes the relationship with BEIS and Ofgem as "very positive", adding: "They are quite rightly challenging the ENA and the networks to move this forward at pace." The DNOs may be making good progress, but they cannot afford to rest on their lau- rels. The transformation has only just started and there is plenty more to come. The Energy Networks Association has created this DSO Transition Road map as part of the Open Networks Project. The group says the road map will evolve over time, particularly as the market models are clarified, and, as such, it will be updated to give customers the most up-to-date view so they can plan investments and market services accordingly. DSO ROAD MAP TO 2030 (TIER 1) THE KEY FUNCTIONS OF A DSO IDENTIFIED BY THE ENA Charging System co-ordination TSO-DSO trials commenced Flexibility services Targeted flexible connections Targeted ANM rollout Collaboration with National Grid on regional planning Improved demand forecasting ICT systems for ANM DSO ICT - trialling DSO data exchange and visibility DSO ICT - targeted implementation Extensive use of data analytics 2019 -2023 2024 -2030 2017 -2018 Current ICT Technical development Customer and commercial development Targeted ANM rollout ENA standards Active system management Provision of flexible services to TSO and other DSOs Cost recovery for investment ahead of need Commercial platform developed and scaled for TSO-DSO interface Smart meter benefits/DSO tariffs and products Market arrangements for constraint management Scaling up TDI functionality Identifying regulatory frameworks and policy changes Flexible connections Flexibility products available Billing & settlement trialling Some licence areas operating as regional DSO DSO commercial operations becoming core business capability Regulation and non-regulation commercial opportunities Targeted regulatory framework and policy changes Network visibility, tracking & optioneering Regional planning Integration of ANM in DSO commercial services - Commencement of regional planning - Trialling forecasting options - Targeted system monitoring - Revised standards TSO-DSO interface prototypes ED1 short (1-2 years) ED1 medium (3-5 years) ED2 long (6+ years) RIIO-T2 slow track decision RIIO-ED2 strategy, fast track and slow track decision RIIO-T2 strategy decision and fast track decision Network planning Investment planning Connections and access rights System defence and restoration Service market facilitation Service provision DSO functions Current

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