Performance of Network Operators – Focus on Facilitating the Energy Transition

Commissioned by; Budget Energie, Eneco, Engie, Essent, FastNed and Nuon, Ecorys has mapped out the areas in which more insight into the performance of network operators is required.

The Dutch energy system will change enormously in the coming years, partly as a result of sustainability objectives and technological developments. Electricity and gas networks managers play an essential role in every step of this transition. It is striking that it is precisely in the areas that are important for the energy transition, that there is no insight into the performance of network managers, while no performance requirements have been formulated either.

The existing regulation by regulator ACM (Authority for Consumers and Markets) is focused on efficiency and certain aspects of quality (such as outage minutes). This sets high demands on the performance of network operators, whilst the energy transition is effected by end users and market parties to respond to it. For example, they are responsible for the timely connection of wind and solar parks and charging points for electric cars, the installation of smart meters and the facilitation of data flows on the energy market.

The report describes the areas in which more insight into the performance of network operators is required, why this is desirable and how transparency can be improved. A number of Key Performance Indicators are proposed for each site so performance can be measured and controlled.