Skip Navigation
Engagements

DSO Business Model

A northeast investor-owned utility engaged Concentric to examine the potential business and operational impacts of increasing amounts of distributed energy resources (DER) on their distribution system. Simultaneously, our client sought to explore the strategic implications of the Distribution System Operator (DSO) concept. The goal was to develop a Design Model for the DSO that could be shared with executive management to inform long-term strategy.

Our visual presentation-style report addressed several sub-tasks, including:

  • DSO Capabilities Assessment a high-level assessment of the utility’s readiness for high penetration DER within areas such as Distribution Planning, Grid Operations, Customer Programs, and Procurement/Market Services.
  • DSO Design Model including attributes such as sources of value for customers, DERs, and shareholders, along with the regulators’ role in influencing and allocating value and risk among participants.
  • DSO Design Model Implications on the organization, including the roles and responsibilities necessary to operate in a high-penetration DER ecosystem.
Related Engagements