Réseau de Transport d'Électricité
| Company type | Société anonyme |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electricity transmission |
| Founded | July 2000 |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
Area served | France, interconnected with neighboring countries (Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, United Kingdom) |
| Products | Electricity transmission services |
| Owner | French government (via Électricité de France and Caisse des dépôts et consignations) |
Number of employees | 8,279 (2007) |
Réseau de Transport d'Électricité (abbreviated as RTE), meaning "Electricity Transmission Network," serves as the transmission system operator for electricity in France. It is responsible for the management, upkeep, and expansion of the country's high-voltage transmission infrastructure, which is the largest of its kind in Europe, spanning roughly .
RTE functions as a société anonyme based in Paris, with majority ownership held by the French government through entities such as Électricité de France and Caisse des dépôts et consignations.
History
The establishment of RTE was a direct consequence of European Directive No. 96/92/EC issued in December 1996, which required that a minimum of 26% of electricity sales be exposed to competitive markets. This policy prompted France to open its electricity sector by separating the previously unified roles of generation and transmission, formerly monopolized by EdF. Initially formed in July 2000 as a division within EdF, RTE was charged with guaranteeing equitable access to the grid and ensuring a dependable electricity supply.
Further legal measures enacted in 2004 and 2005 formally detached RTE from EdF, transforming it into a limited liability subsidiary and conferring exclusive rights to its brand name and logo.
Regulation
The governance of RTE’s activities falls under the supervision of the regulatory authority known as the Commission de régulation de l'énergie (CRE). This body monitors RTE's facilitation of network access and enforces regulations that foster competition within the electricity market.
Commercial operations
In 2007, RTE achieved revenues amounting to €4,126 million alongside a net profit of €466 million, reflecting modest increases compared to the prior year. This growth was largely attributed to higher payments for network access and proceeds from auctions related to interconnector capacities. The company employed a total of 8,279 personnel during this period.
Data portal
RTE maintains an open data platform named Open Data RTE, which offers publicly accessible information concerning the French electricity system for reuse by stakeholders.
Transmission network
The transmission grid operated by RTE includes voltage levels of 63 kV, 90 kV, 150 kV, 225 kV, and 400 kV. Voltages between 63 kV and 150 kV fall under the "high voltage" category, whereas 225 kV and 400 kV are classified as "extra high voltage." As recorded in 2006, the network consisted of 99,676 km of transmission lines connecting approximately 2,490 substations. The majority of these lines—77,544 km—are overhead cables, with underground cables accounting for only 3,258 km. The system operates at a nominal frequency of 50 Hz.
Demand and trade
Peak electricity consumption in France typically occurs during winter months; in 2007 this peak reached 88,960 MW. Total annual electricity generation was recorded at 544.7 TWh from an installed capacity totaling 108,319 MW, with nearly 60% derived from nuclear power plants.
RTE’s grid is interconnected with neighboring countries through 44 high-voltage links connecting Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom—the latter via an HVDC submarine cable. France holds the position as Europe’s leading exporter of electricity; in 2007 exports reached 83.0 TWh compared to imports of 27.5 TWh. Switzerland emerged as France’s largest trading partner in electricity flows, importing 26.1 TWh from France while exporting back 4.4 TWh.