A power outage on the Russian high voltage power line restricts Estonian-Latvian transmission capacity

Until the 26th of August, the transmission capacity between Estonia and Latvia will be lower than usual as the 330 kV high voltage power line in Russia, affecting the Estonian-Latvian cross-section, has been switched off.

The restriction results from a decision made by the Russian electricity system operator, as they did not receive approval from the Latvian system operator AST, who is in charge of the cross-section. These works were not planned in the lines maintenance schedule, which is coordinated among all operators of BRELL systems.

According to the Chairman of the Board of Elering, Taavi Veskimägi, the incident further endorses the need to desynchronise the Baltic electricity system from the Russian system and unite it with the synchronous area of the Continental Europe. A similar incident also took place at the beginning of June.

During the restriction, the electricity capacity between Estonia and Latvia is 400 MW instead of the usual 650 MW and 450 MW instead of the usual 700 MW between Latvia and Estonia. Capacities used during the night are higher.

The restriction started on Sunday night and according to the schedule will end in the afternoon of the 26th of August.