The European Energy Regulators’ Group for Electricity and Gas (ERGEG) launched a public consultation on its position on smart grids on the 17th of December 2009. The consultation period ended on the 1st of March 2010 and ERGEG published a Conclusions Paper, including an evaluation of comments received, on 10 June 2010. This CIRED paper addresses the regulatory priorities highlighted by the consultation that the development of smarter electricity networks will present. Its focus is on distribution networks. It explains the drivers behind the consultation, reviews the key issues addressed and summarises the conclusions reached.