HEDNO’s Key Role in the Transition of the Greek Energy Market
The electricity sector in Greece is going through major changes and through a revolutionary phase. Following the European energy market’s transition towards clean energy, the Greek power sector is reforming, as the country moves to decarbonize its coal-dominated power sector.
The law 4001 adopted in 2011, opened the way for these reforms and for the transposition of relevant EU electricity sector legislation into national legislation. Under the Law 4001, HEDNO, the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator, was established in May 2012, after the spin-off of the distribution department of PPC S.A.
The company is operationally and functionally fully independent, a 100% subsidiary of PPC S.A., and is responsible for planning and operating the Electricity Distribution Network in Greece with total network length of 237,357 km, 7,000 employees and 7.47 million customers. Main services include network development, consumption metering, network maintenance, fault restoration, connection of consumers and renewable energy sources and retail market facilitation. Furthermore, HEDNO is responsible for the efficient and secure operation and management of the non-interconnected islands’ electrical systems.
HEDNO, like all the other distribution system operators (DSOs) in the electricity sector across Europe, has a leading role in the energy transition in order to achieve the EU climate goals set by the winter package for energy efficiency and higher renewable penetration. Therefore, HEDNO is facing multiple new challenges besides its traditional mission to operate, maintain and develop an efficient electricity distribution system.
The company has a key role in enabling a competitive retail market, by facilitating transparent and non-discriminatory access to its network, while at the same time, new tasks and responsibilities are constantly challenging its operation, like high penetration of distributed generation, appearance of energy communities, smart islands, electromobility, etc.
HEDNO is dedicated in to achieving a successful transition of the Greek energy market and at the same time in to providing a significant contribution to the country΄s economic recovery.
To achieve these goals, HEDNO’s vision is to become one of the top ten DSOs in Europe, achieving the optimal combination of quality and low-cost services, respecting environmental protection.
The company’s strategy aims to the integration of modern technologies, like smart grids, remote services, automation etc. Its investment plan of more than 250 million euros annually, is based on 12 strategic projects (smart meters, distribution control centers, new IT systems for customer service, network remote control systems, etc.), that will reinforce and modernize the Hellenic Distribution Network.
The company΄s key strategic projects, pave the way towards the smart grids era in Greece, thus enabling the development of new market services and achieving optimal combination of quality and low cost.
HEDNO’s goal to modernize the electricity network and transform it in to a “Smart System”, aims to continuously optimize the service quality to the connected consumers and producers, covering their emerging needs by an optimal techno-economical way.
While the electricity sector worldwide undergoes radical transformation, both technological and organizational, HEDNO advances towards the development of the necessary infrastructure for maximizing the benefits for the economy, the society and the environment.
Source: bponline.amcham.gr