On 14 February 2026, amendments to the Electricity Market Act entered into force, as a result of which micro-producers with a generation capacity of up to 15 kW are not subject to the fee for unused generation capacity. Users of generating installations exceeding 15 kW will henceforth pay the fee based on the difference between the 95% of the contractually agreed capacity to be supplied to the network and the maximum capacity actually supplied to the network during the measurement period. Imatra Elekter will notify electricity producers subject to the fee of the exact amount by email in March.
The national fee for unused generation capacity was introduced in 2023 with the aim of optimising the use of the electricity network and ensuring the efficient distribution of network resources. Funds received from the unused generation capacity fee are used for investments related to increasing the transmission capacity of the network.
If the amount of electricity supplied to the network remains below 95% of the generation capacity agreed in the contract, users of generating installations with a capacity exceeding 15 kW are required to pay for the unused generation capacity in accordance with the law. The amount of the fee is determined by the Electricity Market Act at €38 per year for each kilowatt of unused generation capacity, ie capacity not supplied to the network (plus VAT). Unused generation capacity is calculated based on the difference between the 95% of contractually agreed capacity to be supplied to the network and the maximum capacity actually supplied to the network during the measurement period.
In April, Imatra Elekter will issue the first invoices for unused generation capacity fee to electricity producers who have not used at least 95% of the contractually agreed generation capacity to be supplied to the network in 2024 and 2025. Electricity producers will be notified of the amount of the fee by email in the first half of March. After the initial two-year monitoring period, the fee is charged for both years at the same time. In the future, the fee will be charged regularly once a year following the conclusion of each calendar year.
How to choose a network contract with a suitable generation capacity?
We recommend reviewing your required generation capacity to be supplied to the network. The electricity volumes at your place of consumption can be viewed on the My Production page of the Elering Data Exchange Platform.
If you do not plan to use the generation capacity to be supplied to the network to the extent agreed in your network contract and wish to optimise the applicable fee, it is possible to reduce the capacity. To this end, please send an application to us to the e-mail address [email protected]. We have extended the application deadline until 25 March 2026.
In this case, the fee included in the invoice issued in April for the years 2024 and 2025 will be calculated based on the reduced capacity.
For example:
- If the electricity producer’s contractually agreed capacity to be supplied to the network is 50 kW and the actual usage in 2025 was 35 kW, the fee is calculated based on the unused generation capacity using the formula 50 kW × 0.95 – 35 kW.
- If the producer reduces its contractually agreed capacity to be supplied to the network to 40 kW, the fee in April will already be calculated based on the reduced capacity, using the formula 40 kW × 0.95 – 35 kW.
When and to whom does the unused generation capacity fee apply?
The fee applies only to the use of generating installations with a capacity exceeding 15 kW. Micro-producers with a capacity of up to 15 kW do not have to pay the fee.
The fee for unused generation capacity is calculated according to the monitoring period for the use of the generating installation.
- Network contracts concluded before 18 March 2023: the monitoring period covers 2024 and 2025.
- Network contracts concluded after 18 March 2023: the monitoring period covers 2025 and 2026.
How is the fee calculated?
When calculating the fee, the capacity of the generating installation specified in the contract is first considered, i.e. the capacity of the generating installation whose use has been agreed. The capacity supplied to the network is then compared with the contractually agreed capacity to be supplied to the network. If the actual capacity supplied to the network falls below 95% of the contractually agreed capacity to be supplied to the network, the fee is applied on the basis of the difference between the two.
Example of fee calculation:
- at the connection point, a generating installation with a capacity of 50 kW is in use;
- the contractually agreed capacity to be supplied to the network is 12 kW;
- the capacity actually supplied to the network during the period was 9 kW.
Such a generating installation is subject to the fee for unused generation capacity as the generating installation in use has a capacity exceeding 15 kW.
- The contractually agreed capacity to be supplied to the network is 12 kW, of which the 95% electricity production requirement is 11.4 kW.
- The actual capacity supplied to the network was 9 kW, which is lower than 95% of the contractually agreed capacity to be supplied to the network.
- Therefore, the fee is calculated on the basis of 11.4 kW – 9 kW = 2 kW.
Where to find more information?
For more detailed information about the fee and reducing capacity, visit our unused generation capacity webpage.
If you have any questions, please contact our customer service at 606 1840 or 715 0180.