The future of our electricity network

Consultation to engage communities in future DSO strategy

We are carrying out substantial stakeholder engagement on the shift in our role to becoming a Distribution System Operator (DSO) and the role of flexibility in managing the network.

We recognise that one size does not fit all, so this consultation is targeted at community energy organisations and local energy stakeholders.

The consultation paper:

• Sets out the key areas of the shift to DSO and development of flexibility markets
• Sets out what we think this will mean for community energy groups and local energy stakeholders
• Invites feedback through an online questionnaire on what matters most to community energy groups and local energy stakeholders.

Please read the full consultation paper, before attempting to answer the questions in the online questionnaire. 

This consultation aims to:

• Support community energy organisations to develop knowledge about our changing energy system
• Encourage informed participation
• Find out what communities think and what their future energy plans are, and;
• Use this information to inform WPD’s ongoing engagement and capacity building support for community and local energy stakeholders going forward
• Ensure WPD’s vision for DSO is aligned with the needs of customers and stakeholders

We will use the information gathered during this consultation to refine the implementation of the DSO strategy, understand where the gaps are, and shape future community engagement work. Feedback will also contribute to the design and development of flexibility products and enable us to identify whether a tailored offering is necessary for communities to ensure they can access the market.

We welcome engagement and input from a wide range of organisations. This consultation sits alongside animations and workshops on DSO and flexibility we are holding with community and local energy stakeholders in each of our licence areas, see our community energy webpages for details. 

We have now published the Communities Consultation report here.