Frequently Asked Questions - Transmission and system services.

At the moment, TenneT administers the 380 kV and 220 kV grids in the whole of the Netherlands. We also administer the 150 kV grid in the province of Zuid?Holland. These grids only have lines that run above ground. The ‘lower’ networks, i.e. the ones with lower voltages, are administered by the regional electricity producers, which also have a transmission duty. The power is transmitted to your home or workplace below ground via local electricity substations (transformer houses/vaults).

Further information: 'TenneT, publications, technical publications' (see the 'grid map' and the publication 'transmission on balance').

TenneT communicates with parties that can help maintain a balance between the supply of and demand for power. These are the so?called ‘parties with programme responsibility’, which can produce more or less power upon TenneT’s request. In the event of a ‘not?normal situation’ in the grid or system or if maintenance work is being performed, the emergency capacity can be deployed or a request can be made for extra regulating and reserve capacity.

Further information: 'Operational management, operational reports'.

The APX Group is the first combined electronic energy exchange in Europe for trading in gas and electricity futures. The head office of the APX Group is located in Amsterdam. One of the core activities of APX B.V. in the Netherlands concerns the day?ahead market for electricity. Via the exchange, distributors, producers, traders and industrial end-users can buy and sell electricity for the next day. APX publishes daily price indices which are used as reference prices in the market.

You may visit the APX website for further information.

TenneT facilitates transmissions across the national high-voltage grid in response to market demand and supply. To achieve this, TenneT has reached agreements with the Dutch regional grid administrators and grid administrators in neighbouring countries to ensure that the transmission of electricity proceeds smoothly. The following criteria are important in relation to transmission services: quality, continuity of service and transparency towards the market.

Further information: 'Transmission- en system services, transmission services'.

TenneT maintains the balance between the supply of and demand for electricity. We achieve this by deploying regulating and reserve capacity and incidental emergency capacity (reserve capacity contracted exclusively to TenneT). In practice, there is almost always a slight imbalance between supply and demand on the electricity grid.

Further information: 'Transmission and system services, system services'.

Parties connected to the electricity grid may enter into contractual purchase and sales relationships. Within the scope of these contracts they can make daily performance arrangements. TenneT has developed a system for measuring the daily quantities and settling the costs if the power production is not equal to the consumption. In this context, TenneT has authorised a number of parties to act as parties with programme responsibility.

Further information: 'Transmission and system services, system services, programme responsibility'.

TenneT has authorised a number of parties to act as ‘parties with metering responsibility’. They measure the electricity consumption and perform work on electricity meters which comply with the statutory requirements. A similar method is used by parties with metering responsibility which have been authorised to deal with gas consumers.

Further information: 'Transmission and system services, system services, metering responsibility' and the DTe website.

TenneT has drawn up a procedure by which an organisation can be authorised to perform the activities concerned. Interested parties can contact the Service Centre for this purpose. Our staff there will be able to provide more information.

For further information please contact the TenneT Service Centre (see 'In general').