Balancing responsibility

TenneT uses a system of balancing responsibility to keep the supply and demand of electricity in check. Connected parties are responsible for informing grid operators of their planned electricity production, consumption and transport needs. If their actual consumption and production differs from what they forecast, imbalances occur, which can ultimately affect the reliability of the grid.

The parties can set up these programmes themselves, or assign the responsibility to authorised Balancing Responsible Parties (BRPs). 

Why is balancing responsibility necessary?

Participants in the Dutch electricity market are free to choose who they trade with. Suppliers and consumers enter into contractual agreements that stipulate how much power they are buying and selling (supply instructions and blanket orders). In practice, the agreed amounts can differ from what they actually produce or consume. These discrepancies must be settled so no power shortages or surpluses occur. TenneT uses a system of balancing responsibility for this.  

How does it work?

Authorised BRPs inform TenneT on a daily basis about their planned transactions for the next day, and the networks that they will use for transporting the electricity. The sum of the transactions for each BRP is called an energy programme (e-programme).

The Distribution System Operators inform us about how much electricity each BRP actually consumes and produces. The difference between the amounts in the e-programme and the actual measured values is the imbalance.

Acknowledgement

To be acknowledged by TenneT as a BRP, an applicant must:

• submit the application form for acknowledgement as BRP
• have the required technical and administrative expertise, including of how to submit the electronic E-programmes
• issue a financial guarantee
• accept the General terms and conditions for invoicing and payment of imbalance