Data, the gate to a smart energy system

Electricity data exchange is indispensable for the proper functioning of the smart energy system and will be a key means of creating new value. It is not a new phenomenon for power system players.

There are two categories of data, the one related to electricity flows, resulting from the power system functioning and concerning market players such as suppliers and aggregators, DSOs and TSOs. And the one related to the customer, which identifies its point of electricity intake and its final consumption.

European DSOs have traditionally already been operating meters to enable accurate customer billing by suppliers. Also, they have been managing network data to operate, plan and develop the distribution network as well as exchanging technical network data with TSOs for system stability purposes. In most EU countries, DSOs have been operating centralised or decentralised data hubs, collecting network operational data and data needed to facilitate electricity retail markets, ensuring data protection and data privacy.

There is a distinction to be made between technical data protection for grid security reasons, to ensure that electricity flows, and customer data protection for privacy reasons i.e. to protect the personal privacy of electricity customers. As data handler, being a regulated player, the DSO has to guarantee both, namely thanks to cyber security measures.

With the introduction of smart meters, the quantity and granularity of these types of data expands considerably, and all players have something to gain for this new wealth of data, especially customers.

Monitoring, automation and IT upgrading of distribution grids also enhances the telecommunication component of network management, and therefore the relationship with ICT providers and telecommunication operators.

For electricity retailers, this new data means investing in data analytics software and tools in order to grasp precise customer profiling and unleash the development of added-value services related to energy efficiency, optimisation of generation and consumption, etc. These new services, could lead to a more active customer achieving energy savings.

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This EURELECTRIC conference will shed some light on data exchanges and flows among power system players as well as on the dynamics with other industries such as ICT and telecommunications.