1. A method for operating an energy distribution system in which energy is fed through substations into subsystems and a distribution of the energy is monitored by way of a central device that is superordinate to the substations, the method comprising: operating at least one of the substations in an optimization mode wherein the at least one substation optimizes an operation of the entire energy distribution system by examining a modification action, which the at least one substation could perform in a subsystem associated therewith, for an effect on the operating state of the entire energy distribution system, and thereby: sending from the at least one substation operated in optimization mode to one or more respective substations affected by the modification action an enquiry signal that defines the modification action; receiving by the at least one substation operated in optimization mode from the one or more respective substations affected by the modification action a respective substation-individual sensitivity value that indicates a change in a local operating state in the subsystem associated with the respective other substation if the modification action were to be executed in the subsystem of the at least one substation being operated in the optimization mode; and checking whether the modification action would lead to an improvement in the operating state for the entire energy distribution system based on the received sensitivity values by the at least one substation being operated in the optimization mode; wherein said checking comprises at least one of: summing the substation-individual sensitivity values with a sensitivity value of the at least one substation operated in optimization mode, and forming a total state value that describes the operating state of the entire energy distribution system based on the substation-individual sensitivity values and a sensitivity value of the at least one substation operated in optimization mode.