Actors in a forward-looking planning process
The long-term planning and implementation of smart distribution grids involves a large number of actors with complementary roles and responsibilities. It is a complex system involving multiple interdependent actors and context-specific factors that influence how the grid evolves over time.
The landscape of actors involved is very diverse, and grid development requires a wide range of competencies. Broadly speaking, we can distinguish between policymakers at various levels, who are responsible for providing the preconditions that enable grid modernisation at the country or regional level. Grid planners and operators, who are involved in developing specific distribution grids at the local and regional level.
The resources in the ISGAN Knowledge Hub are organised according to this high-level distinction between policymakers and grid planners.
Policymakers
“Policymakers” is a broad term. In this context, it refers to actors involved in shaping and supporting the long-term planning and implementation of smart distribution grids at multiple system levels.
Policymakers hold the key to forward-looking, efficient grid planning processes through their role in shaping enabling framework conditions such as governance structures and regulatory frameworks, as well as their involvement in the grid planning process itself, particularly in the first two phases: foresight and strategic decision-making.
Here, we distinguish between two key levels of energy policymakers:
Energy policymakers and regulators
These actors are responsible for creating the policy and regulatory environment for distribution grid planning at the national/federal or regional level.
Key responsibilities:
Policy development: Defining long-term energy strategies and regulatory frameworks.
Strategic oversight: Ensuring grid development aligns with goals such as energy security, affordability, and climate neutrality.
Regulatory compliance: Overseeing adherence to energy laws and frameworks.
Risk and impact regulation: Evaluating grid investments in terms of market stability, consumer protection, and environmental impact.
Coordination: Ensuring alignment between policy, regulation, and grid planning practices.
Data and knowledge infrastructure: Supporting interoperable data standards and platforms to enhance transparency and foresight.
Local and regional governments
These actors are responsible for regional and local planning, ensuring that energy and grid planning align with broader territorial and societal objectives.
Key responsibilities:
- Policy integration: Embedding energy strategies within regional development frameworks (e.g., housing, mobility, and climate adaptation).
- Strategic foresight: Providing insights on local trends, opportunities, and constraints.
- Regulatory alignment: Ensuring that local and regional regulations support long-term grid plans.
- Collaboration: Working with distribution system operators (DSOs), grid owners, and national agencies to ensure consistency across planning levels.
- Public engagement: Facilitating local participation and ensuring that projects meet community needs.
Grid planners
“Grid planners” refers to technical and executive roles that are responsible for the long-term planning and implementation of smart distribution grids. These roles can be found within distribution system operators (DSOs) or utilities, and public or private grid ownership entities.
Grid planners play a key role in translating policy and strategic decisions into actionable infrastructure investments. Their work is particularly critical in the final three planning phases: long-term planning, assessment and decision-making, and implementation.
We highlight three main actor types:
DSO/Utility Chief Technical Officer (CTO)
The CTO is responsible for leading the technical aspect of grid planning and ensuring system integrity and reliability, innovation, and operational performance.
Key responsibilities:
Technical planning: Overseeing grid expansion and modernisation efforts, including the integration of renewable energy and smart technologies.
Implementation oversight: Ensuring that grid projects meet technical standards, timelines, and budgets.
Monitoring and adaptation: Continuously assessing grid performance and implement necessary adjustments.
Collaboration: Working with other stakeholders to align technical priorities with broader strategic and policy goals.
Data infrastructure: Managing technical data to facilitate knowledge sharing among stakeholders.
DSO/Utility Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
The CEO sets the utility’s strategic direction, ensuring that grid development aligns with financial sustainability and public policy goals.
Key responsibilities:
Strategic leadership: Defining long-term priorities that balance financial performance with regulatory compliance and sustainability.
Decision-making: Authorising key investments, partnerships, and innovation initiatives.
Risk management: Anticipating and mitigating financial, operational, and regulatory risks in grid development.
Collaboration: Coordinating internal teams and external stakeholders to implement cohesive strategies.
Governance compliance: Ensuring strategic decisions align with legal and regulatory frameworks.
Grid owners
As the public and/or private legal owners of infrastructure assets, grid owners are responsible for the long-term strategic management of grid infrastructure. They must balance financial objectives with societal goals to ensure long-term viability.
Key responsibilities:
Investment oversight: Providing funding for long-term grid development and modernisation.
Asset management: Maintaining and managing grid assets to ensure optimal performance.
Risk and impact assessment: Evaluating the risks of grid investments, including environmental and social impacts.
Governance and compliance: Fulfilling regulatory obligations and uphold ownership responsibilities, including those towards grid operators.
Collaboration: Aligning investment strategies with broader policy goals in partnership with other key grid actors.
Other important energy sector actors
As energy systems become more complex and interconnected, long-term planning requires a proactive approach that involves a wider rage of actors from the beginning. These stakeholders can contribute valuable expertise, insights, and services throughout all stages of grid development.
Key actor groups include:
Transmission system planners ensure coordination between transmission and distribution levels.
Energy suppliers provide services at the customer interface and influence demand dynamics.
Intermediary actors: aggregators, platform providers, and service coordinators.
Active and passive grid users, including prosumers, energy communities, and storage operators.
Industry and solution providers: innovators offering technology and system solutions.
Research and innovation actors supply knowledge, tools, and methods to guide planning.
