Case Study: DSO Transition Roadmap - with a New Zealand DSO
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02 February 2022
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EA Technology
Client: Distribution Service Operator (DSO) in New Zealand
The client acknowledged the impact that disruption in the power sector is causing to their business and the challenges it brings in practical terms. The client wanted to:
- Revisit their current business model, roles, capabilities and skills
- Consider an evolution from their current role as an electricity distribution business to a DSO
EA Technology supported the client in defining their vision and developing the implementation roadmap for transition to a DSO model. Specifically, our approach consisted of the following key steps:
1) Engage key internal stakeholders right from the start to gain a full understanding of the organisation’s requirements and vision.
2) Conduct a one-day course titled ‘Understanding Network Transformation’ to bring staff up to speed on industry changes and enable a more proactive approach in adapting to a rapidly-changing sector.
3) Conduct a workshop with internal stakeholders to identify the future DSO aspirations.
4) Perform a gap analysis that includes an extensive literature review on international best practices and trends, internal documents and national related projects.
5) Combine the relevant lessons learned from our research activities - aspirations, boundaries, desired end-state of the DSO role etc. and develop the most appropriate DSO model option.
6) Select a DSO model with respect to:
- Current and new actors
- New and extended roles and responsibilities
- Functional requirements
- Interoperability requirements across the two layers
- Technology, commercial, regulatory, customer and market considerations
7) Draw out the key milestones required to get the organisation from where it is today to the desired state, into an implementation roadmap.