elnätet

Elnätet, or the electrical grid, refers to the system of transmission and distribution networks that transport electricity from power generation plants to consumers. It includes high-voltage transmission lines, substations, lower-voltage distribution networks, and the control and protection systems that coordinate delivery and maintain reliability.

In many countries the grid is organized into two main parts: a Transmission System Operator (TSO) that operates the long-distance, high-voltage network, and multiple Distribution System Operators (DSOs) that manage the regional networks reaching homes and businesses. The TSO ensures system balance, frequency (typically 50 Hz in Europe), and interconnections with neighboring networks; DSOs handle local voltage levels, outages, and connection services for customers and generators.

Regulation and access to the elnätet are typically governed by national energy regulators. Network operators are either publicly owned or privately held but operate under strict tariffs, reliability standards, and non-discriminatory access rules to ensure that generators, suppliers, and end-users can connect to and use the grid.

Modern elnätet increasingly incorporates renewable energy sources, distributed generation, energy storage, and digital monitoring. Smart grid technologies, advanced metering, automated switching, and demand-side response aim to improve efficiency, resilience, and the integration of intermittent power.

Because the grid is essential infrastructure, its operation emphasizes security, reliability, and coordination across borders where interconnections exist. The term elnätet is used in Swedish contexts to describe both the national electricity network and, more generally, the power grid.