CEER publishes its paper on Electricity “Smart Grid” Performance Indicators, a follow-up to the joint ACER-CEER guidance paper of June 2024. The paper contributes to the ongoing debate on smart grids by identifying a limited set of output indicators that National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) could use to monitor and assess the performance of system operators in relation to the development of smart electricity grids.

Focusing primarily on electricity distribution networks, the CEER paper complements parallel position paper by the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) on smart grid performance indicators for electricity transmission, which introduces output indicators to assess the performance of grid-enhancing technologies at transmission level.

The CEER paper identifies six key dimensions of network performance:
• Integration of renewable energy generation;
• Integration of increased electrification of energy uses;
• Continuity of supply and resilience to extreme events;
• Other quality of supply objectives;
• Energy efficiency;
• Data made available to market participants.

CEER underlines that some of the proposed indicators intentionally feature an open and broad scope. The indicators are put forward as a starting point for NRAs to consider, acknowledging that similar but slightly different indicators may already be in use across countries. As experience is gained, the indicators are expected to be tested and, where appropriate, adjusted, as they are further developed and implemented.

Overall, the performance evaluation process enables NRAs to assess historical performance and its evolution, establish the current situation and adopt a prospective vision to set desired targets and objectives, leveraging network development plans and system operator business plans.

Read the Report here.