Five years after its establishment by the Electricity Regulation, DSO Entity has entered a new phase of its development. During its conference, held in Brussels last 25 June, DSO Entity celebrated not only five years of representing electricity distribution system operators (DSOs) at European level, but also the beginning of a new chapter with the integration of gas and hydrogen DSOs into its governance bodies and membership.
The event brought together representatives from European institutions, DSOs, industry stakeholders, and energy associations to reflect the role of distribution networks in delivering Europe’s energy transition. Throughout the day, discussions focused on the challenges and opportunities ahead, from strengthening Europe’s electricity grids and accelerating digitalisation to fostering greater cooperation across energy vectors (learn more on the event reading our previous articles on our website).
A defining moment of the event came when DSO Entity’s Secretary General, Peter Vermaat, welcomed Andreas Guth (Eurogas), Gabrielle Gauthey (GD4S), Gert De Block (CEDEC) and Carmen Gimeno de la Fuente (GEODE) onto the stage to sign a pledge symbolising the start of their journey within the organisation and the commitment of electricity, gas and hydrogen DSOs to work together under a common set of values in support of Europe’s energy transition and the benefit of consumers.
The Gas/H2 integration: background information
The symbolic pledge signed during DSO Entity’s 5th Anniversary event represented far more than a ceremonial moment. It marked the culmination of a transformation that has reshaped DSO Entity over the past two years, opening a new chapter in which electricity, gas and hydrogen DSOs will work together.
Originally established to represent electricity distribution system operators (DSOs) at European level, DSO Entity’s mandate was expanded through the Gas Regulation to include gas and hydrogen DSOs (EU – 2024/1789). The legislative change reflected the increasingly interconnected nature of Europe’s energy system and recognised that achieving the EU’s decarbonisation objectives requires closer cooperation across energy vectors.
Delivering this new mandate called for a comprehensive change of DSO Entity’s governance to ensure fair and balanced representation across electricity, gas and hydrogen sectors while preserving the organisation’s effectiveness and efficiency.
To prepare for this transition, DSO Entity launched an extensive governance review in 2024, resulting in the development of the “Compromise Package“. Developed through intensive negotiations, this package established a governance model designed to balance the interests of electricity, gas and hydrogen members while maintaining efficient decision-making. It addressed key aspect of DSO Entity’s governance, from Board composition, voting arrangements and decision-making procedures to budgetary principles and the preparation of the annual work programme.
The process brought together experts from DSO Entity’s existing electricity members and representatives of future gas and hydrogen members and it was further strengthened by the active involvement of the European associations (GEODE, CEDEC, Eurogas, GD4S), whose expertise helped shape a governance framework reflecting the interests and perspectives of all sectors.
The Gas/H2 integration: latest updates
Building on the Compromise Package, DSO Entity revised its Statutes and related governance documents to formally integrate gas/H2 members. The updated documents were submitted to ACER and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER) in November 2025. Following favourable opinions from ACER on 12 March 2026 and the European Commission on 12 June 2026, the revised Statutes were approved by DSO Entity’s Board of Directors on 19 June and formally adopted by the General Assembly on 23 June.
During the same General Assembly, DSO Entity officially admitted its new members, including gas/H2 DSOs alongside additional electricity members, completing the legal foundations of the enlarged organisation.
With the governance framework now in place, attention has turned to its implementation. As a first step, DSO Entity launched elections for its new Board to ensure balanced representation across its expanded membership. It is expected that the newly elected Board can be approved by the General Assembly beforethe end of September. Once installed, the Board will discuss and decide on further topics like work programme and memberfee, the launch of Expert Groups to work on e.g. network codes and papers and the related secretarial support.
The governance transition initiated in 2024 is now entering its final stage. The anniversary event celebrated the beginning of this new era, while the months ahead will see DSO Entity fully implement the governance framework that will enable electricity, gas/H2 DSOs to work together in supporting Europe’s energy transition.
Learn more about this journey on our website.