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.

From the beginning of 2026, a security of supply charge will be added to the network service invoice, which will help to ensure the availability of electricity even under difficult circumstances. The charge will be 0.758 cents per kWh. The renewable energy charge, collected from electricity end-users to finance renewable electricity support, will not change in the new year – it will remain at 0.84 cents per kWh. A balancing capacity charge will be added to electricity invoices, which will help to ensure the use of fast-response generation capacity. The charge will be 0.373 cents per kWh. The above prices do not include VAT.

 

New line item on the network invoice: security of supply charge

In accordance with the Electricity Market Act, a security of supply charge will be added to network service invoices from the beginning of 2026. The purpose of the charge is to maintain and establish dispatchable power plants that support the electricity system of Estonia in all circumstances. For example, in adverse weather conditions or when connections with other countries have been interrupted.

Power plants must be prepared to provide reserve capacity financed by the charge for at least four consecutive hours, at 16-hour intervals on ten consecutive days and for at least 200 hours per year. The cost of maintaining the necessary reserve capacity is approximately 60 million euros per year. To fund this cost, the charge added to the invoice for network services in 2026 will be 0.758 cents per kWh consumed (excluding VAT). For residential customers with average consumption, this will have an impact on their total invoice by approximately €2–3 per month.

The security of supply charge is calculated and published each year by the transmission network operator Elering. Distribution network operators, including Imatra Elekter, are responsible for collecting the charge from electricity consumers. Customers will see the security of supply charge for the first time on the invoice issued in February, which reflects consumption in January.

Read more about the security of supply charge on the website of Elering.

 

The renewable energy charge will not change in 2026

The share of electricity generated from renewable sources in Estonia has grown: 69% of all electricity was generated from renewable sources this year. Of this, 37% received support for renewable energy, meaning that the majority of renewable electricity is already being produced without support.

According to Elering, support for renewable energy is expected to total €74 million in 2026, with supported electricity production amounting to approximately 1.6 TWh. Of the support, €25 million is planned to be paid to solar parks, €22 million to wind farms, €21 million to biomass plants. In 2026, the renewable energy charge will remain at 0.84 cents per kWh (excluding VAT).

Read more about the renewable energy charge on the website of Elering.

 

New line item on the electricity invoice: balancing capacity charge

In accordance with the Electricity Market Act, a new line item in the form of a balancing capacity charge will be added to electricity invoices from the beginning of 2026. The purpose of the charge is to finance the use of fast-response generation capacities that keep the electricity system balanced at all times. The balancing capacity charge is applied to all consumers and electricity producers in a uniform manner, and its amount is determined by the system operator Elering. In 2026, the charge will be 0.373 cents per kWh for both electricity consumers and producers. For residential customers with average consumption, this will have an impact on their total invoice by approximately €1–1.5 per month.

Imatra Elekter applies the balancing capacity charge to customers who are sold electricity at the universal service or balancing electricity price. The charge will appear for the first time on the invoice issued in February, which reflects consumption in January. If Imatra Elekter only provides the network service and does not sell electricity to the customer, the balancing capacity charge will be billed to the customer by their electricity seller.

Read more about the balancing capacity charge on the website of Elering or ask your electricity service provider for more details.

Starting from 1 February 2025, the price per ampere used as the basis for the connection charge and the charge for amendment of conditions when connecting to the Imatra Elekter network or increasing the fuse amperage in a specified area will increase from €92.72 to €315.36. The price per ampere used as the basis for the charge for amendment of conditions when transitioning from a single-phase network connection to a three-phase connection in the specified area will increase from €42.70 to €64.48. All prices are inclusive of VAT.

The new prices per ampere will apply to connection offers based on connection applications submitted from 1 February 2025 onwards. Connection offers based on connection applications submitted before this date will be prepared using the current prices per ampere.

The renewable energy charge, collected from electricity end-users to finance renewable electricity support, will decrease in 2025 from 1.05 cents to 0.84 cents per kilowatt-hour, excluding VAT. Historically, the renewable energy charge has only been lower in 2014, when it was 0.77 cents per kilowatt-hour.

It is expected that a slight decrease in this charge can also be anticipated in the coming years, as the support periods for power plants under the old fixed-price support scheme are gradually coming to an end, which means less money will be needed for support in the near future.

Electricity produced from renewable sources already accounts for 63% of Estonia’s total electricity production this year. At the same time, supported renewable electricity accounts for 46% of all renewable electricity produced, meaning more than half of renewable electricity is generated without support.

Next year, an estimated 84 million euros will be spent on renewable energy and efficient cogeneration support. The volume of supported electricity production is expected to be approximately 1.6 terawatt-hours.

For both wind farms and solar parks, 28 million euros will be spent on support. According to the scheme, support for biomass power plants will amount to 23 million euros, support for power plants that participated in reverse auctions for electricity from renewable energy sources in recent years amounting to three million euros, and support for efficient cogeneration to less than two million euros.

The renewable energy charge is a statutory fee used to finance support for electricity produced from renewable energy sources or in an efficient cogeneration process and supplied to the network. According to the law, the renewable energy charge is calculated by Elering, which prepares and publishes an estimate on its website by 1 December based on production and consumption forecasts, with input from network operators, direct line possessors, producers of electricity from renewable energy sources and in an efficient cogeneration process, and consumers connected to Elering’s electricity network.

Renewable energy charge will decrease by 20 percent from the new year | Elering

Taastuvelektri toetuste rahastamiseks elektri lõpptarbijatelt kogutav taastuvenergia tasu alaneb 2025. aastal 1,05 sendilt 0,84 sendini kilovatt-tunnist ilma käibemaksuta. Ajalooliselt on taastuvenergia tasu olnud madalam vaid 2014. aastal, kui see oli 0,77 senti kilovatt-tunni kohta.

Eeldatavalt on antud tasu mõningast alanemist oodata ka lähiaastatel, sest vanas fikseeritud hinnaga toetusskeemis olevad elektrijaamade toetusperioodid hakkavad järjest lõppema, mistõttu kulub lähiaastatel toetusteks vähem raha.

Taastuvatest allikatest toodetud elekter moodustab sel aastal juba 63% kogu Eesti elektritoodangust. Toetatav taastuvelekter moodustab kogu toodetud taastuvelektrist samal ajal 46% ehk rohkem kui pool taastuvelektrit toodetakse ilma toetuseta.

Järgmisel aastal kulub prognoosi järgi taastuvenergia ja tõhusa koostootmise toetusteks 84 miljonit eurot. Toetatava elektritoodangu maht on seejuures eeldatavalt ligi 1,6 teravatt-tundi.

Nii tuuleparkide kui päikeseparkide puhul kulub toetusteks 28 miljonit eurot. Biomassil töötavate jaamade toetuseks läheb kava järgi 23 miljonit, viimaste aastate taastuvenergia vähempakkumistel osalenud elektrijaamade toetusteks kolm ja tõhusa koostootmise toetusteks alla kahe miljoni euro.

Taastuvenergia tasu on seadusega kehtestatud tasu, millega rahastatakse taastuvast energiaallikast või tõhusa koostootmise režiimil toodetud ning võrku antud elektrienergia toetusi. Taastuvenergia tasu arvutajaks on seaduse järgi Elering, kes koostab ja avaldab 1. detsembriks oma veebilehel tootmis- ja tarbimisprognoosidel põhineva hinnangu, milleks annavad sisendi võrguettevõtjad, otseliini valdajad, taastuvenergiast ja tõhusa koostootmise režiimil elektrienergia tootjad ning Eleringi elektrivõrguga ühendatud tarbijad.

 

Taastuvenergia tasu alaneb uuest aastast 20 protsenti | Elering

The network charge of Imatra Elekter AS will increase from 1 February 2025 by an average of 5.7%. The price increase is driven by increased investment and maintenance needs to ensure a stable electricity connection and security of supply for customers, as well as by the overall rise in the costs of labour and materials due to rapid inflation.

All network charges, including transmission charges, main fuse fixed charges and reactive energy charges, will change.

The main reason for the increase in the network charge is the rising costs of maintaining and repairing the electricity network, along with other operating expenses over recent years. In 2023, Estonia’s inflation rate was 9.2% and it is forecasted to be around 4% in 2024.

‘Our wish is to provide the customers of Imatra Elekter AS with a high-quality network service. Achieving this requires continuous network upgrades and maintenance, both of which have become significantly more costly over time,’ commented Rudolf Penu, Chairman of the Management Board of Imatra.

The change in the network charge from 1 February 2025 will be uniform across all network packages.

The prices of additional network-related services will also change from 1 February 2025. The prices of additional services have remained unchanged since the beginning of 2018. Over the past seven years, the unit prices for work performed by our service partners have increased significantly, necessitating an update to the prices of additional services.

 

Price list from February 1, 2025