Introduction

October 2012 - Due to laws of physics, electricity networks must be kept in balance at all times: consumption ('demand') must continuously equal supply (or 'generation'), and therefore any shift in consumption must instantaneously be followed by a shift in supply and vice versa. The difficulty to keep this balance is increased by the fact that, unlike other commodities, electricity is hardly storable. Balancing of the system implies that transmission system operators (TSOs) are entrusted with the mission of keeping their respective balancing zones, also known as control areas, in ...