Who is responsible for owning and maintaining a high voltage transmission system?

The ownership and maintenance of a high voltage transmission system primarily falls under the responsibilities of the grid owner. The grid owner is tasked with overseeing the infrastructure that transports electricity over long distances from generation sites to substations. This encompasses not only physical assets such as transmission lines and substations but also the necessary operational protocols for ensuring reliability and efficiency.

The grid owner must ensure that the transmission system is well-maintained and compliant with regulatory standards. This involves regular inspections, upgrades, and emergency responses to maintain operational integrity and meet the growing demands for electricity supply. The ownership also includes strategic planning for capacity expansion and integration of new technologies, like renewable energy sources.

In contrast, utility providers are generally more focused on distributing electricity to end-users and may not own the high voltage transmission backbone of the system. Energy regulators oversee compliance and fair practices, but do not own or maintain physical infrastructure. Power distribution companies manage the distribution network, often associated with lower voltage systems serving local areas, rather than the high voltage transmission networks.