On 9 October, DSO Entity published a comprehensive overview of its active role and delivered tasks in the Grid Action Plan. The publication reviews the work delivered under the scope of the European Commission’s Communication “Grids, the missing link – An EU Action Plan for grids” (GAP), published in November 2023. The GAP has been a cornerstone in recognising the crucial role of electricity grids, and in particular Distribution System Operators (DSOs), in enabling the energy transition and decentralisation of Europe’s energy system.
The publication comes as the 11th Energy Infrastructure Forum in Copenhagen (2–3 June 2025) marked the official end date for the delivery of the GAP. In its publication DSO Entity provides a detailed overview of the progress achieved over the past 18 months, as well as its recommendations to maintain momentum in the years ahead.
What topics were tackled in the Grid Action Plan?
The non-legislative Communication identified seven core challenges facing electricity grids in delivering on net-zero objectives, declined in 14 proposed action points to be undertaken by institution actors to support grids over an 18-month timeframe. DSO Entity was tasked with the delivery of 7 of these Action Points, mostly together with ENTSO-E.
Those Action Points were framed under five thematic clusters that guided the work conducted over the past 18 months.
Which role DSO Entity played in delivering the Grid Action Plan?
Through collaboration with other stakeholders and with the support of the European Commission, DSO Entity worked actively towards the full implementation of the GAP’s provisions since its publication. Every Action Points was attributed to an existing Expert Group or Task Force, responsible to oversee its full delivery. DSO Entity even established a new Task Force Finance, Investment and Remuneration (TF FIN) in March 2024, to ensure the delivery on the GAP’s provisions related to funding, investments, and remuneration of DSOs.
All Expert Groups and Task Forces contributed actively to the full implementation of the GAP, producing a wide range of deliverables, many of which in close cooperation with other stakeholders. The publication provides a comprehensive overview, offering valuable insight into the scope and extent of the work achieved.
While DSO Entity delivered all assigned Action Points on time, several deliverables were transformed into permanent tasks continuing well beyond the official due date. DSO Entity will continue to contribute to these topics in the time to come based on follow-up actions deriving from the Copenhagen Forum and/or legislative and non-legislative acts.
What is needed beyond the Grid Action Plan?
The GAP was a crucial building block to support the delivery and implementation of preceding EU-legislation such as RED III in REPowerEU or the Electricity Market Design reform (EMD reform), with both packages aimed at tackling challenges faced by European grids.
Yet, some issues extend beyond the scope of the GAP. While some could be tackled through the ongoing and follow up activities from the Copenhagen Forum and reinforced support towards the implementation of existing EU legislation at the national level, some areas still require stronger and direct EU support.
As the European Commission prepares for the publication of its Grids Package, expected in November 2025, DSO Entity’s paper highlights remaining challenges and sets out key recommendations for addressing them.
Read the full paper here.