People power

The Social DSO Strategy is an extension of ENW’s existing general DSO Strategy and Transition Plan and comes after extensive consultation with customers and stakeholder groups.

The ‘co-creation’ process started in Autumn 2024 and involved workshops, deliberative research and feedback, including a focus group of energy users representing a diverse cross-section of customers, and a stakeholder roundtable event featuring representatives from local and combined authorities, consumer and business sectors, charities and third- sector agencies.

The resulting strategy defines how ENW’s transition to a DSO can be adapted to a business model that delivers multiple societal benefits, centred on a commitment to making the energy transition inclusive, fair and just for everyone.

The network has forecast that, by 2040, nearly one in every two homes will have a heat pump; one in every 16 homes will have rooftop solar photovoltaics; and around 9 in 10 drivers will be behind the wheel of an EV.

“We need to prepare for the future so we don’t get to the stage where people are being put at risk, whether that's through the cost of their energy bills, or being left behind and unable to access advanced renewable and low-carbon technologies.”

Stephanie Trubshaw, customer services & connections director, ENW

Ensuring that LCT uptake is distributed evenly across all social demographics requires a significant push to reach people not currently exploiting or aware of the benefits. Increasing flexibility, as the clean electricity system is managed more dynamically to maintain reliability and balance demand, will compensate customers for adjusting when, where and how electricity is used or generated, highlighting the need for equitable access.

Stephanie Trubshaw, customer services & connections director at ENW says: “We need to prepare for the future so we don’t get to the stage where people are being put at risk, whether that's through the cost of their energy bills, or being left behind and unable to access advanced renewable and low-carbon technologies.”

The Social DSO Strategy aims to ‘squeeze every pound’, which means ensuring that every investment delivers maximum value by stacking societal benefits, alongside traditional network efficiency and cost-effectiveness, including improved energy access, economic growth, job creation and carbon reduction.

“We're refining our decision making tools to include that wider suite of benefits, allowing us to make better whole system decisions that take into account many more factors than simply the economic price sitting in front of us.”

Paul Auckland, head of economic regulation and DSO, ENW

Drilling into the detail, this vision is built around five defined goals:

Timely investment to enhance the network’s ability to support regional and national net zero targets.
Investment decisions that maximise social benefits, supporting the environment, economy and community resilience.
Broader sharing of net zero benefits by supporting clean energy investments, sustainability and climate projects in marginalised communities.
Increasing participation in the energy transition, extending beyond the usual groups to include those at risk of being left behind, and;
Working collaboratively to increase system efficiency, using smart technology and partnerships to maximise clean renewable energy.

With this framework in place, the plan is to evolve activities in response to market trends, regulatory guidance and new insights to ensure its continued relevance.

“We're refining our decision-making tools to include a wider suite of benefits, allowing us to make better whole system decisions that take into account many more factors than simply the economic price sitting in front of us,” said Auckland, “For example, if there is a choice between a flexibility service provider that is going to create an air quality issue, compared to one that isn’t, we would look to favour the latter because it’s less damaging in social benefit terms.”

A Utility Week Intelligence report, in association with Electricity North West