TSO world

The Transmission System Operator is the pilot of the electricitysystem: the TSO is responsible for the safe operation of thesystem. This means:

• taking care of the safe transmission of electricity
• taking care of the reliability and stability of the system
• balancing supply and demand at any time
• maintaining and developing the infrastructure: the networks andrelated technical facilities.

In the liberalised electricity market that is developing in theEuropean Union, the TSO is not itself a market party. Rather, it isthe provider of the infrastructure and of the system managementservices that are the necessary prerequisites for the functioningof the market.

As a provider of these services to market parties (generators,traders and suppliers of electricity) the TSO has not only thetechnical responsibility for system operations, but is alsoresponsible for the fair and non-discriminatory access to theseservices by market participants. The neutral and independent TSO isa precondition for fair competition.