About ECDSO-E

COORDINATION PLATFORM FOR Energy Community Distribution system operators

Implementation of the Energy Community Treaty requires ongoing cooperation between national institutions, organizations, industry and civil society. This can either take place in the context of the Energy Community institutional framework or on the basis of regional initiatives focusing on specific policy issues.

The Energy Community institutional setting did not provide a distinct platform for distribution system operators (DSO) from the outset. In light of the implementation of the Third Energy Package, the Secretariat found it necessary to enhance the DSOs’ involvement and to provide a platform for expressing their opinions and changing information.

STAKEHOLDER COOPERATION

To enhance the interaction, the Secretariat set up a Energy Community Distribution System Operators Coordination Platform (ECDSO-E) in March 2014. Parallel to experience sharing, the platform is to ensure adequate reflection of DSOs´ positions in the ongoing policy debates. It aims to provide a deeper insight of the roles and obligations of DSO. More importantly, there should be a clear understanding how these obligations can at best be achieved. To reflect the business interests, the platform is to define common position of DSOs, to formulate assessments and recommendations, whenever appropriate.

On 29 November 2018, the 16th Ministerial Council adopted a Procedural Act on the establishment of the ECDSO-E Coordination Group.

In concrete terms, the ECDSO-E  is to cooperate in the following areas of common interest.

  • technical aspects (smart meters, integration of renewables, grid connections, load profiles);
  • regulatory aspects (unbundling, cost reflectivity of tariffs and prices, investment incentives, treatment of losses and thefts);
  • internal economics (investment planning, cost control and accounting policies on unbundling and procurement policies) and
  • cooperation and benchmarking (defining priorities, lobbying, benchmarking best practices, exchange of experience, support in emergency situations)

In long term, the ECDSO-E intends to take more active part in the activities of other DSOs associations in the EU.  To this end, the ECDSO-E could be seen as a connection point for the Energy Community DSOs experts and their counterparts in diverse European DSOs associations.

By the adoption of Regulation 2019/943 on internal market for electricity by the Ministerial Council Decision in 2022, the role of the Coordination Group of the Energy Community Distribution System Operators was additionally strengthened towards the position of that of EU DSO entity. The adapted Regulation in Article 52 stipulates:
1. Distribution system operators shall cooperate at Contracting Party level through the Coordination Group of the Energy Community Distribution System Operators established by Procedural Act No 2018/01/MC-EnC in order to promote the completion and functioning of the single market for electricity, and to promote optimal management and a coordinated operation of distribution and transmission systems, and in accordance with the tasks and terms of reference adopted by Procedural Act No 2018/01/MC-EnC.

Energy Community Distribution System Operators shall be represented by the Energy Community Secretariat in all activities aimed to enhance cooperation with the EU DSO entity established in accordance with Regulation (EU) 943/2019. This is without prejudice to distribution system operators joining the EU DSO entity individually based on common agreement.
2. <…> As an expert entity working for the common Energy Community interest, the Coordination Group of the Energy Community Distribution System Operators shall neither represent particular interests nor seek to influence the decision-making process to promote specific interests.

Interactive Discussion Forum

To ensure smooth communication among the DSOs, the Secretariat established a web based interactive discussion forum (ECDSO-E Forum). Its purpose is to facilitate discussion, experience sharing, exchange of views and initiatives among experts interested in the distribution system operation. The Forum provides its members the platform for launching initiatives of common interest or posting their views and concerns, when possible and needed also in the form of joint position.

Access to Forum is permitted only to the members of the Forum.