Baltic Transmission System Operators (TSOs) - Estonian "Elering", Latvian AS "Augstsprieguma tīkls" (AST) and Lithuanian "Litgrid" have agreed to make changes in balancing the Baltic energy system to reduce dependence on the Russian energy system - from June 1 the balance of consumption and generation in the Baltics will be ensured mainly with the balancing capacities available on the Baltic, Nordic and Polish markets.

The Baltic power system operates synchronously with the Russian interconnected power system, which ensures frequency stability and balance between consumption and generation in the Baltic power system. "In view of the growing difficulties for Inter RAO companies to settle with banks, as well as the fact that due to financial risks Nord Pool has suspended cooperation with Inter RAO, Baltic TSOs have agreed to stop purchasing balancing electricity from Inter RAO from June 1st to rule out the need to make payments to a Russian company," says Gatis Junghāns, a board member of AST.

The changes introduced by the electricity transmission system operators will reduce the dependence of the Baltic States on the Russian energy system, and will contribute to ensuring the balance of electricity of the Baltic power system with the balancing capacities in the Baltic Sea region.
The Baltic power system will continue to operate synchronously with the Russian interconnected power system until the synchronization of the Baltic power system with the continental European power system in 2025. AST continues to implement the program for synchronization of the Latvian power system with the European power system, including the reconstruction of two 330 kV power transmission lines to Estonia by 2025, construction of three synchronous compensators to ensure system frequency stability, construction of an 80 MW battery storage system to ensure power system balancing reserves, to create an automatic generation control system, as well as other projects. The synchronization program is also being implemented in Estonia, Lithuania and Poland.