The European Union's GDP growth has been accompanied by declining electricity consumption, which is a key driver for the power industry. However, the trend may not be sustainable in the long run as implemented efficiency measures have reached their limits. Dean Brabec of Arthur D. Little demonstrated different energy policies between various EU countries, highlighting the critical situation of transmission systems in Poland, Czech, Slovakia, and Switzerland caused by delayed construction of transmission lines in Germany. The presentation stressed the important role of distribution companies, which will represent approx. 2/3 of total investment in European power grids in the coming 10-20 years. Asset management is the heart of a distribution system operator's core business, and a comprehensive management system, such as PAS 55, can help improve quality along the entire asset management cycle. A structured and transparent process enables the company to make asset management decisions in line with the strategic goals of the firm.
