Ed’s Note: E.DSO’s ‘Action for Ukraine’

March 15, 2022 Editor

E.DSO transformation_00001 — Image: E.DSO

The energy sector and especially E.DSO (the European Distribution System Operators, the association gathering the leading DSOs in the European Union), have taken action in helping Ukraine during its time of need.

Specifically, E.DSO supports their Ukrainian DSO member, DTEK Grids, in its gigantic effort to keep the lights on as much as possible. As we can all understand, that is not an easy task, especially under heavy bombardment.

And to clarify what the expression “not an easy task” really means in a time of war, according to E.DSO, “At the end of last week, DTEK communicated that three employees were killed and three more were injured due to clashes. We fear this figure is gradually increasing”.

In addition, and according to the World Economic Forum and news agencies, over 900 towns and cities across Ukraine are without heat or light, while crews from DTEK have restored power to 300,000 people since the war began. But to reach damaged infrastructure repair crews need safe passage.

Moreover, DTEK is supplying free power to hospitals, the military and bread makers in several regions since the start of the invasion. As well as restoring power, electricity companies are maintaining supplies across the country. And these are just a few examples, written just for us to have an idea of the situation on the ground.

But, back to E.DSO’s support. The first action of the association was to grant a strong network of cybersecurity professionals selected among the members to support DTEK Grids in this field. Cyber-attacks are a favorite tool in modern time warfare after all.

“Following a decision of their Executive Committee from the 25^th of February 2022, “E.DSO set up a Coordination Team to support DTEK Grids and organised the dispatch of emergency generators”, wrote Roberto Zangrandi, Secretary General of E.DSO.

In this framework, E.DSO members are providing: 4 Generators of 250KVA, 2 Generators of 200 KVA, 1 Generator of 400 KVA. “The equipment has been collected and progressively addressed to Ukraine in an ever-worsening logistical and transport situation,” Zangrandi adds. Ignitis Group, LT; E.ON: Delgaz and VSD, RO & SK; E-Distribuție, RO; PGE Dystrybucja, PL have arranged generators and logistics.

In addition, the E.DSO Coordination Team, which is active in Brussels also received requests to help provide accommodation and care for almost 400 refugees, all members of families of DTEK workers. But as the Secretary General of E.DSO says, “an indicative number of families and dependents of DTEK employees considered refugees is now close to one thousand”.

E.DSO will also propose its members release a considerable sum from the financial surplus generated in 2021 to help finance its members’ technical and humanitarian efforts while many members also have started an approval process to provide through E.DSO donations with the same finality.

And as Patrick Clerens, Secretary General of EASE (the European Association for Storage of Energy) said, it is “very nice to see specific support since this goes way further than the needed solidarity declarations”.

I could not agree more. What about you?

Cheers, Areti