Brussels, Belgium --- (METERING.COM) --- January 10, 2013 - The European transmission operators’ network ENTSO-E has finalized a draft network code on demand connection (DCC) in Europe, defining a common set of requirements for demand facilities, distribution networks and distribution network connections, both existing and new.

The intent of the code is to facilitate demand side response (DSR) measures across Europe through the connection of embedded generation, and the development and delivery of crossborder DSR services.

The code identifies five possible DSR services with a cross border impact – active power control, reactive power control, transmission constraint management, very fast active power control, and system frequency control.

For the first four of these, the service is anticipated to be voluntary with delivery via a focus on market-based incentives, with the active power control option also including a mandatory option. For system frequency control a mandatory delivery of service by certain devices is believed to provide the optimal outcome from the socio-economic perspective.

According to an ENTSO-E statement, the DCC is embedded in the portfolio of network codes on electricity. Regular coordination at the level of dynamic generation and demand, adequate performance of equipment connected to all networks and robustness to face disturbances are fundamental prerequisites covered in the DCC.  

The DCC also ensures that embedded generation can support system security and that large crossborder flows can be facilitated. In addition, it provides a basis for connection rules on crossborder related DSR services. As such, the DSR related requirements in the DCC ensure a reliable delivery of these services when needed. It also covers a Europe-wide process to make selected devices DSR-ready, to be further developed via standardization and removing barriers for DSR by smallscale demand users.

The DCC has now been submitted to the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) for assessment, with a view to it becoming binding across Europe.