People's attitudes to DSOs, new transmission lines and smart metering

"Permitting and public acceptance is the key issue", Konstantine Staschus, Secretary-General of ENTSO-E stated at the Cigré International Symposium in Bologna, September 2011. He was talking about European market integration, electricity highways and smart grids. In order to reach the EÜs ambitious goals on renewable energy, over 600 major transmission line projects are now being planned. Expansions of this kind are often strongly opposed by local environmentalists. This generates negative publicity for the power sector, prolongs casework and delays the finalising of the projects. This has major socio-economic consequences and should be avoided.