Establishment of grid connection

Conducting a procurement for the establishment of a connection

Following the entry into the connection contract and payment of the first instalment, Elering will draw up the procurement documents.

During the preparation of the procurement documents, it is determined whether the planned technical solution requires construction work outside Elering’s land unit. In this case, negotiations will be initiated with the landowner to acquire the necessary land. In the event of compulsory possession or planning issues, Elering will also involve the local government in the negotiations. If Elering’s existing registered immovable allows for the construction of the connection, the estimated time from payment of the first instalment to the announcement of the procurement is up to six months, depending on the technical solution; when establishing new plans, this time may be extended due to third parties.

When announcing a procurement, a procurement notice is published in the public procurement register or, in the case of procurements below the threshold of simple procurements, Elering invites tenderers to participate in the procurement itself. Tenderers submit to Elering the documents required in the procurement documents (qualification documents and tender) which Elering will check for compliance. Potential contractors are generally given 4–8 weeks to draw up and submit tenders.

Upon receiving tenders, Elering checks their compliance with the requirements of the procurement documents and determines the best tender. The result (best tenderer) is approved by the client. Once the winner of the procurement has been announced, the client is required to pay the second instalment of the connection fee within 20 days. Upon receipt of the second instalment of the connection fee, the network operator will enter into a contract for services for design and construction work.

Establishment of a connection

During the construction and completion of the connection point, Elering verifies the compliance of the gas equipment built by the contractor to perform the connection contract with the design documentation and requirements. The initial gas flow to the client’s gas installation will be opened after the contractor has properly completed the construction and Elering has accepted it, and the customer has complied with the following requirements set out in the connection contract and the Connection Conditions, including:

• the technical project of the client's installation has been approved by Elering;
• the client's gas installation is ready to receive gas;
• a declaration to open the gas flow has been submitted to Elering;
• a technical audit preceding the use of the gas installation has been carried out and its positive result has been presented to the network operator;
• all required payments have been made to the network operator;
• Elering has been provided with the data of the client's gas installation in the volume required by the connection contract and the Connection Conditions;
• an agreement for the use of the grid connection has been entered into with Elering.

Conditions for the producer

The producer must further meet the following conditions to open the gas flow:

• carry out testing and calibration operations (SAT – Site Acceptance Tests) of the gas metering system belonging to the producer. To ensure that the network operator has the opportunity to participate in the SAT, the producer must notify Elering at least 14 days in advance;
• perform testing and calibration operations at the site at least three weeks before the planned start of gas flow into the network operator’s gas system;
• the producer has submitted to Elering the results and report of the data volumes of the gas installation and the functionality tests of control devices at least 14 days in advance;
• the producer has submitted to Elering the results of the gas conformity assessment, including in accordance with the EVS-EN 16723-1 standard, no later than 14 days before the initial opening of the gas flow or change in raw material, which certifies the compliance of the gas intended for transmission to the network operator with the established legislation, standards and the connection contract.

It is important to note that after opening the initial gas flow, the producer must:

• test the functioning of all control commands between the network operator's control centre and their own installation within no later than 14 days;
• ensure that all tests are carried out to the required extent and under the required conditions during the validity of the temporary network contract (within one year from the opening of the initial gas flow);
• confirm, in order to enter into a permanent network contract, that the production installation belonging to them has been tested and that the gas introduced into the network operator's pipeline meets the applicable quality requirements and does not contain hazardous substances.