1 How is Fingrid’s business financed?
Fingrid’s customers pay service fees that cover the company’s operating costs. “Congestion income” generated by cross-border connections is also used to offset certain costs.
The main services that customers pay for include main grid service, balance service and Datahub service. Main grid service provide customers with a connection to the main grid and ensure reliable electricity transmission through the connection point. Customers who use main grid service include distribution system operators and other parties that connect directly to the main grid, such as battery energy storage facilities and electricity production and consumption facilities.
Balance service is responsible for maintaining a continuous power balance in Finland and for the national imbalance settlement. Customers include balance responsible parties who pay balance service fees to cover both the reserve costs included in the balance service and other expenses.
Datahub is a centralised data exchange system for the electricity retail market. The system is managed by Fingrid, and electricity retailers and distribution system operators utilise it in their business operations. Customers pay service fees to cover their use of the Datahub and its development.
2 To what extent can Fingrid set customer fees?
The Energy Authority supervises the criteria used to determine Fingrid’s fees and their flevel. Unlike other European countries, Finland has an Electricity Market Act that limits individual increases in grid service fees to no more than 8 per cent per year. Customer fees are based on the costs incurred by providing the service.
3 What is the Finnish State’s role as an owner: does Fingrid receive funding from the State Budget, and has the State provided Fingrid with capital?
Fingrid does not receive funding from the State Budget, and the State has not injected any capital into Fingrid. The State receives a return on its holding in Fingrid, just like the company’s other shareholders.
4 What percentage of a household electricity bill is attributable to main grid transmission?
This figure has been 2–3 per cent in recent years.
5 How does an increase in electricity production or consumption affect grid service fees?
Electricity production currently accounts for about one-fifth of main grid costs, while electricity consumption accounts for four-fifths. European regulation limits the fees charged for production to ensure fair competition across borders.
Both production and consumption typically grow in tandem in accordance with the normal laws of supply and demand in the electricity market. The geographical location of new production and consumption will determine how much new main grid infrastructure will need to be built, which will in turn affect grid service fees.
6 How much does a 100-megawatt data centre or other industrial facility pay in grid service fees?
Under Fingrid’s current fee structure, consumption facilities pay only energy-based fees, along with a consumption fee based on the customer’s total consumption and an input power fee based on the electricity transmission measured at the main grid connection point.
This consumption fee is time-differentiated – the rate for daytime hours on winter weekdays is 3.5 times higher than at other times. Data centres and other industrial facilities typically have high peak usage times and consistent consumption throughout the year. Using 2026 grid service prices, a 100-megawatt data centre would pay EUR 2,750,000 per year, assuming that the customer has annual energy consumption of 570 gigawatt-hours and does not produce any of their own electricity.
This customer will also be charged a one-time connection fee upon signing the connection agreement. The 2026 fee is EUR 1 million for 110-kilovolt connections.
7 How much does a 100-megawatt wind turbine pay in grid service fees?
Fingrid currently charges power plants a power-based tariff for production, as well as an input fee based on the energy measured at the main grid connection point. A 100-megawatt wind power plant that is directly connected to the main grid and has a peak operating time of 3,000 hours will pay EUR 440,000 in grid service fees per annum.
8 How much does a 100-megawatt battery energy storage facility pay in grid service fees?
Fingrid currently charges battery energy storage facilities a power-based tariff for production, as well as input and output fees based on the energy measured at the main grid connection point, netted at an hourly level. A 100-megawatt battery energy storage facility that is directly connected to the main grid and both charges and discharges electricity within the space of an hour will pay EUR 300,000 in grid service fees per annum.
Fingrid is currently planning to revise the structure of its grid service fees. Significant updates will include capacity fee for consumption, cost correlation between production and consumption, and a new invoicing model for battery energy storage.
