There is no real limit to the degree of effective distributed processing and control that can be deployed in a power system. We need to accelerate this deployment.
The ideal system has both distributed and overriding central intelligence and control. But we have a long way to go before we reach any sort of theoretical limit.
The obstacles are more organizational than technical. Siloed human authority and responsibilities will need to disappear before we can fully explore the advantages of distributed technical assets.
We've already gone too far in committing to distributed resources.