A joint invoice solution created by Elering enhances the conditions for competition on the electricity market

Over the weekend, Elering launched a computerised solution that enables all sellers of electricity to submit a single joint invoice to consumers for electricity sold and the network service.

 “The ability to submit a single joint invoice equalises the conditions of competition, because a joint invoice can now also be submitted by sellers of electricity who have not been connected to any network service providers,” commented Elering’s Chairman of the Board, Taavi Veskimägi.

Elering’s role is to offer a secure information exchange between sellers of electricity and network operators. The final consumer receives a joint invoice from the seller of electricity from which the client purchases electricity. Remuneration for the network service extends from the seller of electricity to the network operator on the basis of a contract between the parties, and is independent from the data sharing platform.

Initially, sellers of electricity can submit a joint invoice to a consumer as long as the network service is rendered to the client by Estonia’s biggest distribution network company, Elektrilevi. At the same time, the solution created by Elering means that a single joint invoice can be implemented to serve the clients of other distribution networks as well.

The seller of electricity and the network service provider will sign a contract to use a joint invoice, on the basis of which the network operator will forward an electronic network service invoice to Elering’s data sharing platform, Estfeed. Using the same platform, Elering forwards the invoice to the seller of electricity, who can, on the basis of the same data, submit a joint invoice to their client for both network service and electricity consumed.

Elering created a solution to the data sharing platform that allows applications for breaking and restoring the network connection to communicate, because sellers of electricity will be dealing with the possible debts of final consumers by applying the joint invoice service. This means that the seller of electricity can use the platform of Estfeed to forward an application to switch on or off a consumer’s supply of electricity.

In addition to mediating network invoices, Elering has developed a service to the platform of Estfeed to exchange information between the sellers of electricity and network operators. This means standardised information exchange between network operators and sellers concerning measurement data or mediating client concerns.