The Union for the Co-ordination of Transmission of Electricity (UCTE) is responsible for the coordination of the operation and the enlargement of the European grid network that supplies a total of over 400 million consumers. Members of UCTE are 34 transmission grid operators from 22 countries.
The basic tasks of the European Union system are to guarantee a secure supply of electricity and to maintain a high quality supply at as low a cost as possible. The system enables the mutual support among the national grids within the Union network and makes it possible to maintain mutual reserve capacities. The volume of electricity exchange among members is substantial.
Apart from the operation of the grids, the UCTE is also responsible for the rules and regulations, and the further development of secure operation of grids and power plants, the planning and harmonization of enlargements and improvements to the grids as well as the documentation and planning of the exchange procedures.
The volumes of inadverted exchange are sent weekly to APCS by the system operator. In the balance area APG, the volumes to compensate the inadverted exchange currently are raised daily through the electricity exchange EXAA. According to the market rules, it is possible to raise these compensatory volumes alternately through tenders as well.
The costs of the compensation volumes are included in the quarter-hour clearing prices.
