Changing the regulations for regulating the changes: From distribution system operator (DSO) to electricity distribution stakeholders’ organization (EDSO)

Abstract

Followed by the extensive activation of demand side entities, the anti-competitive and monopolistic aspects of distribution system operator (DSO) is becoming more apparent. The business model of the DSO and its regulations are not capable enough to fully leverage the capacity of emerging technologies and responsive prosumers. This paper criticized the challenges/deficits revolving around the conventional DSO model and proposes an interactive platform based on the sharing economy business model at the network level. The electricity distribution stakeholders’ organization (EDSO) as the substitute of DSO in active distribution networks is developed based on the collaborative governance decision-making model. The EDSO has the privilege to legislate on the platform operation and its main policy is to preserve the public interest as well as the integrity of electric distribution system. The superiority of proposed operation model is its non-monopolistic and non-profit nature which materializes the perfect competition of active customers and guaranties their maximum utilization.