7. Conclusion

The operation of distribution networks has undergone profound changes in recent years for at least five reasons:

• The safety of electricity distribution is a major challenge that demands ever-greater professionalism on the part of all those involved;

• the growing number of generating facilities connected to the distribution network is creating new safety requirements;

• the need for quality, which all electricity users expect, demands improved operating performance;

• major technical developments in the fields of protection, automation and control open the way to new functions;

• the rapid increase in power demand on the networks, combined with the community's desire to limit the space taken up by the networks, means...