Eskom Distribution in its commitment to understand and adapt to changing Customer needs has re-positioned to meet this future through the Distribution Energy Trader (DET) and Distribution system operators (DSOs) accessible across South Africa.
The DET and DSO are key levers for the Just Energy Transition (JET) enabling non-Eskom generators and other Distributed Energy Resources (DER) to participate in electricity trading for the benefit of all electricity users.
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OPERATOR
The DSOs present in each South African province will actively manage the Distribution network providing technical services to manage network variability and track the physical transfer of energy that is a key lever to enable electricity trading.
DSOs will also employ available Distributed Energy Resources (DER’s) to assist with voltage support and reduce electrical losses to benefit all participating in electricity trading and consumption.
Additionally, the DSOs avail related beneficial network support to the National system operator given integrated electricity grid in South Africa.
DISTRIBUTION ENERGY TRADER
The DET leverages energy trading for Distribution customers and private generators. This will be by enabling electricity trading transactions, purchasing energy and demand resources offers from customers and non-Eskom generators connected in the distribution grid.
The DET also aggregates for small-sized generation enabling individuals, traders, and aggregators to sell their electricity into the Distribution grid. The DET will use the purchases for retail electricity sales and the provision of ancillary services for network regulation by DSO’s and the National Transmission System Operator.
As the DET is the only electricity trader with a national footprint, all customers and non-Eskom generators can now access the DET as a part of the expanded Energy Services portfolio which include consultation and execution of requests to sell electricity or demand management offers by writing to [email protected].