Connection conditions and legislation

Connecting to the electricity network is governed by legislation, namely the Electricity Market Act (in Estonian), the Government of the Republic regulations "Grid Code" and "Grid Code on the Functioning of the Electricity System" (in Estonian), and the following European Commission regulations:

• European Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/631 establishing a network code on requirements for grid connection of generators (Requirements for Generators, hereinafter RfG);
• European Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1388 establishing a network code on demand connection (Demand Connection Code, hereinafter DCC);
• European Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1447 establishing a network code on requirements for grid connection of high voltage direct current systems and direct current-connected power park modules (hereinafter HVDC).

When connecting to the electricity network, it is important to comply with the standard terms and conditions for connecting to Elering’s electricity transmission system and the methodology for calculating the connection fee and the fee for changing consumption or generation conditions.

Connection conditions

The standard terms and conditions for connecting to the Elering's electricity transmission system (hereinafter Connection Conditions) set out the procedural and technical rules, principles and conditions based on the Electricity Market Act, the Grid Code on the Functioning of the Electricity System, the Grid Code, the RfG, and the DCC for:

• clients connecting to the transmission system;
• consumers and producers connected to the transmission system to whose electricity network type A, B, C or D generating modules are to be connected;
• producers connected to the transmission system to whose electricity network and electricity consumer is connected which does not constitute self-consumption of the generating unit which requires reconstruction and/or reconfiguration necessary for compliance with the terms and conditions described in section 5.6 of the Connection Conditions;
• distribution system operators to whose electricity network type A, B, C or D generating modules are to be connected;
• producers whose type B, C or D generating modules are to be connected to the electricity network of the distribution system operator.

Connection Conditions approved by decision no. 7-10/2025-008 of 21.04.2025 of the Competition Authority apply to connection procedures commenced from 01.06.2025.

Division of generating units:

• Type A generating modules - voltage at the connection point is less than 110kV and the maximum electrical capacity is less than 0.5 megawatts (MW);
• Type B generating modules - voltage at the connection point is less than 110 kV and the maximum electrical capacity is at least 0.5 MW, but less than 5 MW;
• Type C generating modules - voltage at the connection point is less than 110 kV and the maximum electrical capacity is at least 5 MW, but less than 15 MW;
• Type D generating modules - voltage at the connection point is at least 110 kV or the maximum electrical capacity is at least 15 MW.

Methodology

Connection to the network and amendments to the consumption and generation conditions in the electricity network are government by the Electricity Market Act and the Government of the Republic Regulation No. 10 “Grid Code on the Functioning of the Electricity System” of 14 February 2019 established on the basis of subsection 42 (3) thereof, which provides for the procedure for calculating the fee charged by the network operator for connecting to the network and amending the consumption or generation conditions. Subsection 73 (1) of the Electricity Market Act provides for the obligation of the network operator to obtain approval from the Competition Authority for methods of calculating the connection fee specified in clauses 71 (1) 1) and 2) of the Electricity Market Act and the fee for amending the conditions (hereinafter Methodology). 

In the Methodology, Elering has specified the cost components included in the connection fee, how their cost is determined, and the principles for paying the connection fee. The Methodology also describes in more detail the formation of the connection fee for simultaneous connections and in a situation where Elering, upon its own initiative, establishes electrical installations or equipment that are necessary to ensure the transmission capacity requested by the client upon the performance of the connection contract. The Methodology also outlines the principles for reducing the connection fee.

Methodology approved by decision no. 7-10/2025-007 of 21.04.2025 of the Competition Authority applies to connection procedures commenced from 01.06.2025.

Elering AS methodology for calculating the connection fee and the fee for amendment (01.06.2025) (in Estonian)