I attended a panel discussion yesterday at DTECH exploring what the distribution system operator (DSO) model means in practice, and how utilities can move toward it in ways that reflect their own grid needs and regulatory realities - so I thought I'd break down some of the key insights.
Rather than treating "DSO" as a single destination, the discussion focused on how value can be built incrementally, by aligning vision with practical, achievable steps.
The panel was hosted by Electric Power Engineers, and Electron's CEO and Co-Founder, Jo-Jo Hubbard, joined to share insights from a market platform and grid analytics perspective.
A few ideas that stood out:
The shift to DSO is fundamentally about moving from simply connecting capacity to actively using it, making better use of both utility and customer-owned assets as systems become more complex.
"DSO" does not have to mean organisational separation. It can be approached as a set of operational capabilities and principles that evolve how the network is planned and operated. Different markets will implement this differently and embedding these capabilities within the network operator can be an effective path in many contexts.
When utilities talk about “optimising the grid”, they are often describing different things. Technical optimisation and economic optimisation are not the same, and meaningful outcomes depend on designing the two to work together.
Flexibility delivers value beyond individual projects or asset deferrals. It's a system-wide capability, helping improve utilisation, reliability, and affordability across the network.
Progress does not require whole-network transformation on day one. Targeted deployment in the right locations and at the right time can unlock the majority of the value, creating a foundation that can scale over time.
Shout out to Benjamin Lee, Vice President, Distribution Planning & Grid Modernization at Electric Power Engineers, for hosting the session, and to fellow speakers Alex Portilla, Director, Clean Energy Technology Platforms at Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and Cheng Lin, Director of Power Engineering at Enova Power - there were some great insights thanks to that range of perspectives.
If you're looking for more Electron insights, we're also hosting a DTECH panel today on unlocking affordability with DERs at 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM in the Grid Edge Intelligence Booth #4845 - would be great to see you there.