Elektriettevõte

Elektriettevõte is an Estonian term that translates to "electricity company" or "power company." It refers to any enterprise involved in the generation, transmission, distribution, or sale of electricity within Estonia. These companies play a crucial role in the country's energy infrastructure, ensuring a reliable supply of power to households, businesses, and industries.

The Estonian electricity market has undergone significant liberalization and restructuring over the years. Historically, there were state-owned monopolies. However, the market is now more competitive, with various companies operating in different segments of the electricity supply chain. Some entities focus on generating electricity from diverse sources, including fossil fuels, renewables like wind and solar, and biomass. Others specialize in maintaining and operating the high-voltage transmission grid that carries electricity across the country. Further down the chain, distribution networks deliver electricity to end-users, and a separate group of companies is responsible for selling electricity to consumers, often offering various pricing plans.

Regulatory oversight is provided by the Estonian Competition Authority (Konkurentsiamet), which ensures fair competition, sets tariffs for network services, and monitors the overall functioning of the energy market to protect consumer interests and promote the security of supply. The development of renewable energy sources and increasing energy efficiency are key priorities for the Estonian government and its associated elektriettevõtted.