Management of the Balance Scheme
The electricity market is hierarchically organised into a Balance Scheme. Any legal or natural person who wants to actively operate in the Slovenian electricity market is required to become a member of the Balance Scheme.
Members of the Balance Scheme
Members of the Balance Scheme may operate in the electricity market in the following capacities:
- Traders who buy or sell electricity (closed contracts),
- Suppliers who, in addition to trading electricity, are also responsible for supplying electricity to consumers and for purchasing electricity from electricity producers (open contracts).
Other Members of the Balance Scheme
The members of the Balance Scheme also include the combined transmission and distribution system operator, the energy exchange and the Eco Group (set up by Borzen's Centre for Support).
Balancing Agreements
The membership and structure of the Balance Scheme are determined by the balancing agreements concluded with the Market Operator and compensation agreements concluded with the Balance Scheme members. The Market Operator, which is the head of the Balance Scheme, ensures the delivery of balancing energy to the Balance Groups through balancing agreements. The physical balancing of the electricity system is carried out by the combined transmission and distribution system operator ELES. The Market Operator manages the record of the Balance Scheme membership agreements, keeps them up-to-date and publishes them publically on its website.
Entry into the Balance Scheme
There are two ways for market participants to join the Balance Scheme:
- By concluding the Balancing Agreement with the Market Operator,
- By concluding the Compensation Agreement with an existing member of the Balance Scheme.
Membership in the Balance Scheme is a prerequisite for market participants to record closed contracts and operational forecasts with the Market Operator.