Polish Press Agency conference on transmission corridors with participation of ENEA Operator

On 11 April in the seat of the Polish Press Agency by ul. Bracka in Warsaw a conference took place devoted to infrastructural investments in the context of the act under preparation on transmission corridors. It was organised under the patronage of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy Janusz Piechociński, who also spoke in the discussion, calling the transmission corridor act one of the most difficult legislation projects. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Parliament, Marshall's offices and infrastructural companies. ENEA Operator was represented by dr Przemysław Zaleski, Vice-President of the Board for Commercial Affairs.

The key topics of the conference: state of preparations and possible date of completion by the government of works over the act, main controversies connected with the prepared draft act, the most disputable provisions, the meaning of the act for companies - investors, impact of new regulations on the time of preparation and realisation of investments and effects the postponement in time or resignation from the act adoption will entail.  The conference proved to be a perfect place for a discussion on advantages and potential threats that the act adoption will bring to companies. Members of the Polish Parliament were represented by Mirosława Nykiel, and the position of the government was presented by the Deputy Prime Minister Janusz Piechociński and the Director of the Department of Energy Tomasz Dąbrowski. The speakers from infrastructural companies were: dr Jan Chadam, President of Gaz System, Marcin Moskalewicz, President of PERN "Przyjaźń", dr Henryk Majchrzak, President of PSE and dr Przemysław Zaleski, Vice-President of ENEA Operator, who at the meeting represented also Polskie Towarzystwo Przesyłu i Rozdziału Energii Elektrycznej. The discussion was also joined by representatives of self-governments presenting their position in this case.

Vice-President Zaleski paid emphasised the effects that a failure to adopt the act will cause to OSD (distribution system operators). One of the largest threats that a lack of legal regulations regarding transmission corridors may bring is huge amounts of compensation for property owners. Meanwhile, the introduction of such regulations could save ca. PLN 40 bln for OSD (distribution system operator) and OSP (transmission system operator) companies which could be spent for subsequent investments. In the context of talks on the act itself and investment plans of grid companies, Vice-President Zaleski presented a modern approach to the development of distribution networks and extension of 110 kV line on the example of ENEA Operator. He presented the challenges faced by ENEA Operator and other OSD companies connected with securing supplies of electricity for the metro areas through the construction of a ring main around these metro areas, the so-called "supply O-rings", development of 110kV networks preventing an excessive flow of power generated on the areas of huge density of disperse sources and as a consequence network sectioning (including the network parallel work - crossing north-south lines), construction of reduction stations and self-transformers allowing for a more effective management of the work inside the network and increasing the development possibilities of RES, civil power engineering and prosumer power engineering. The  Vice-President emphasized also a huge importance that our Company and the industry attach to building and maintaining good relations with self-governments. Already today we can see that this cooperation brings benefits to each party – he said – we are realising investments more effectively and self-governments may develop economically and encourage prospective investors with good supply conditions.