Scottish and Southern Electric (SSE) and Northern Powergrid, two British electricity distribution network operators (DNOs), have announced proposals to explore a transition in their business models towards becoming what they’re calling ‘distributed system operators,’ (DSO) in an effort to better integrate distributed energy resources (DERs) using smart grid technologies. This sort of transition could become an increasingly common strategy for utilities, which have collectively had their core markets disrupted by the rise of cheap renewable energy. DERs present challenges and opportunities to the DNOs, but could mean dramatic saving for the operators and a cleaner grid, if properly utilized. The DSO model is focused on enabling customers, as cheaply as possible, to buy and sell services from solar panels, electric…