All-Ukrainian forum "Ukraine 30: Digitalization": digitalization and network automation are turning Ukrainian grids into Smart Grid
“Automation, digital technologies, smart meters are the basis for the implementation of Smart Grids that operate with minimal human intervention and reliably provide customers with sustainable electricity. In most countries, the development of Smart Grid is automated, modern, customer-oriented, and is the foundation for the development of smart cities and regions. DTEK Grids systematically implements automation and digitalization technologies in order to transform Ukrainian grids into a modern Smart Grid, infrastructure for the development of Ukraine,” Ivan Geliukh said during the forum.
He added that digitalization of power grids has 2 directions. First of all, digitalization and automation of the grids themselves, which will allow to manage them more efficiently, minimize the number of accidents and time needed to eliminate them. Secondly, digitalization of customer experience.
“DTEK Grids implements digital channels for interaction with customers - websites, chatbots, personal accounts, which allow online monitoring and fullfilment of customer requests, including registration of new grid connections. In all our companies, DTEK DSOs, we make this process public, open. The customer can apply online without any intermediaries on the principle of "single window": fill out an application on the site, add scans of documents. Physically, you need to come to the company's office only once to finally sign the documents and receive technical documentation," said Ivan Geliukh.
He added that in 2020, DTEK Grids DSOs completed 98% of customers’ grid connection applications within the deadlines set by the law. Exceptions are only for those connections where deadlines were delayed due to permitting procedures that do not depend on the company, such as land allocation. Therefore, in addition to the company's efforts to simplification of grid connection, changes are also needed in the process of obtaining permits - the approval process, the process of land allocation.
“DTEK supports current legislative initiatives to simplify grid connection procedure. We were among the experts who worked on the proposals to improve it. Grid connection – is one of the important components of assessing the ease of doing business in the country and its attractiveness to investors in the Doing Busines ranking, so our focus is on its simplification and improvement of Ukraine's position," said Ivan Geliukh.
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DTEK Grids develops electricity distribution and grid operation business in Kyiv city, Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk and Odesa regions. The companies serve 5.4 million households and 150,000 enterprises.
DTEK Grids is a part of DTEK Group, the largest private investor in Ukraine's energy sector. The company constantly integrates into a broad cooperation with European energy companies and institutions, being a member of E.DSO and ECDSO-E as of 2018.
The All-Ukrainian Forum "Ukraine 30" was created as a platform for the actualization of the critical to the Ukrainian society issues.
It is a discussion platform where government officials at all levels, expert community, civil society and the international community raise a number of issues that need to be addressed.
The forum is also an opportunity to explain the position of different parties, the logic in taking initiatives, finding tactics and strategies in developing roadmaps on issues addressed by the forum.
"Ukraine 30" is a planning of the future of Ukraine, using the experience of the best experts from different countries who share their own skills and expertise on the outlined issues with us.
The President of Ukraine has initiated the Forum in 2021.