This ERGEG position paper on smart grids aims to initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders of the European electricity power systems and markets, in order to assist regulators in understanding how smart grids can benefit network users and, assuming that cost-effective benefits can be identified, to explore ways in which the development of smart grids can be encouraged. This paper explores the drivers and opportunities for ‘smarter’ networks from the users’ perspective. Most importantly, it discusses the regulatory challenges and priorities and proposes a number of questions and issues for stakeholders to respond to.

CEER invites all stakeholders interested in smart grids to respond to this consultation, both in general and in relation to the questions in Section 1.3 of the report.

Interested parties are invited to submit comments by 1 March 2010 and these should be sent by e-mail to:  smartgrids@ergeg.org.

Following the end of the public consultation period, ERGEG will publish all comments and replies to questions received from stakeholders.  If a respondent would like ERGEG to treat their contribution with confidentiality then this must be explicitly mentioned in their reply. If possible, confidential information should be provided as a separate annex, so that the main document may be published. Unless marked as confidential, all responses will be published by placing them on the ERGEG website: http://www.energy-regulators.eu.  

Any questions relating to this document should in the first instance be directed to:

Mrs. Fay Geitona
CEER Secretary General
Email: fay.geitona@ceer.eu 
Fax +32 2 788 73 50
Tel. +32 2 788 73 30