sähköverkkoyhtiön

A sähköverkkoyhtiö, often translated as an electricity network company or distribution system operator (DSO), is a company responsible for the operation, maintenance, and development of the electricity grid within a specific geographic area. Their primary role is to ensure the reliable and safe delivery of electricity from power generators to end consumers. This involves managing the physical infrastructure, including power lines, substations, and transformers.

These companies are typically regulated entities, with their activities and pricing subject to oversight by national energy authorities. Their responsibilities extend to connecting new customers to the grid, handling power outages, and investing in grid modernization to accommodate new energy sources, such as renewables, and to meet increasing demand. In many countries, the electricity market is unbundled, meaning that the generation, transmission, distribution, and supply of electricity are carried out by separate companies. The sähköverkkoyhtiö operates in the distribution segment of this unbundled market. They do not typically sell electricity directly to consumers; that function is handled by separate energy retail companies. Instead, their revenue is generated from network fees charged to both consumers and electricity suppliers for using their infrastructure.