Distribution system planning including distribution automation and demand side management in deregulated market environments

Summary form only given. The electric utility industry is undergoing a tremendous change in Norway as well as in other countries worldwide. There is currently a rapid movement towards deregulation and competition, and major structural changes in the industry are leading to changes in the role of utility-sponsored demand side management (DSM). These changes may affect utility motivations and perspectives and, further, also influence the roles played by other parties, such as governments and energy suppliers. This paper has two primary objectives. The first is to discuss the motivation for implementing distribution automation and sponsored demand side management (DA/DSM) in a deregulated market environment. The second objective is to discuss the benefits of DA/DSM in the Norwegian deregulated market environment.