ANNUAL REPORT 2010 - Konkurentsiamet

market to the extent of 35%, meaning that major consumers were given a possibility to
select their own providers or producers of electricity. In January 2010, amendments to the
Electricity Market Act were passed, which, among other things, prescribed the separation of
ownership of system operators and transmission network operators. The amendments also
laid down the following steps towards the opening of the market. Namely, eligible
consumers cannot buy electricity for a regulated price from 1 April; instead they have to do
it for the market price. In April, the power exchange of Nordic countries Nord Pool Spot
(NSP) extended to Estonia by creating the NSP Estlink price area.
The Competition Authority initiated proceedings relating to Eesti Energia Jaotusvõrk OÜ in
order to verify the compliance of its activities with the Electricity Market Act. § 67 of the
Electricity Market Act requires network operators to ensure that measurement data are
collected and then processed by means of metering devices conforming to the technical
requirements.
In August 2010, Eesti Energia Jaotusvõrk OÜ (Jaotusvõrk) served the Competition
Authority with an overview of how the operator carried out the Competition Authority’s
injunction. Jaotusvõrk explained that it managed to replace most of the problematic and
unverified metering devices during the time period prescribed by the Competition
Authority. At the same time, the operator declared that it was unable to replace 2 000
metering units because of the failure to reach the owners of the respective properties, refusal
of the owners to allow the replacement of metering equipment or due to other
complications. Jaotusvõrk confirmed to the Competition Authority that these problems are
continuously being addressed and the company hopes to replace the metering equipment
soon. In that respect, the Competition Authority plans to carry out another inspection of
Eesti Energia Jaotusvõrk OÜ during the year 2011.
Opening of the electricity market
On 01.04.2010 the Estonian electricity market opened up to the extent of 35% (it will
fully open in Estonia on 01.01.2013). For the partial opening of the electricity market,
the Electricity Market Act prescribes that it is mandatory to purchase electricity from the
free market for persons (a person is deemed to be an eligible consumer) who use
electricity in such fixed consumption sites where the consumption volume is at least 2
GWh of electricity per calendar year.
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