MEPSO

MEPSO, short for Macedonian Electricity Transmission System Operator, is the state-owned company responsible for operating North Macedonia's high-voltage electricity transmission system. Headquartered in Skopje, it forms a central part of the country's electricity infrastructure, connecting generation facilities, distribution networks, large consumers, and cross-border interconnections. Its principal technical responsibility is to transmit electricity reliably over the national transmission grid and to maintain the balance and security of the power system. The company was created in 2005 as part of the restructuring of Elektrostopanstvo na Makedonija, commonly known as ESM, the former vertically integrated state electricity monopoly. The restructuring separated electricity transmission from generation and distribution. MEPSO became the transmission-system entity; the generation business initially operated under the name ELEM, later associated with Elektrani na Severna Makedonija; and the distribution and supply business was separated into ESM AD, which was sold in 2006 to Austria's EVN Group and subsequently operated as EVN Macedonia and EVN AD Skopje. This separation established distinct roles for production, transmission, and distribution within the national electricity sector. MEPSO operates the country's 400-kilovolt and 110-kilovolt transmission infrastructure. The network described in reference material has a total length of approximately 2,021 kilometres. In addition to physical grid operation, MEPSO manages the electricity system, coordinates the movement of power, supports system reliability, and facilitates the functioning of the national electricity market. It operates under licences issued by North Macedonia's National Energy Regulatory Commission, including a licence for transmission-system operation and another for electricity-market operation. Its activities are infrastructure and public-service oriented rather than consumer-brand driven. MEPSO does not primarily sell household electricity products under a retail brand. Instead, its customers and institutional counterparts include electricity producers, distribution and supply companies, traders, neighbouring transmission operators, and eligible market participants. Its performance is measured through network availability, system security, balancing, market administration, interconnection management, and the reliable delivery of electricity across the transmission grid. International coordination is an important part of the company's role. MEPSO is a member of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity, or ENTSO-E. Through this institutional connection and its cross-border transmission responsibilities, it participates in the broader European electricity-system framework. Its position is particularly relevant to regional electricity exchanges, system coordination, and the integration of North Macedonia's grid with neighbouring power systems. MEPSO remains fully owned by the North Macedonian state and is organized as a joint-stock company. The company is therefore both a commercial legal entity and a strategic public utility. Its present identity is closely associated with national grid stewardship, electricity-system security, market operation, and the modernization and coordination of North Macedonia's transmission infrastructure.

MEPSO emerged from the institutional restructuring of North Macedonia's former electricity monopoly, Elektrostopanstvo na Makedonija, or ESM. Before the restructuring, the state electricity enterprise combined major functions of the electricity value chain, including generation, transmission, and distribution. A transformation process established through legislation adopted in 2004 prepared the separation of these activities into distinct companies. In 2005, the former ESM structure was divided into three principal entities. MEPSO was established as the state-owned transmission-system operator. A separate state-owned generation company was created to manage the country's power plants and initially operated under the name ELEM. The distribution and supply business was placed in ESM AD. This separation reflected the broader organization of electricity sectors in Europe, where generation, transmission, distribution, and market functions are managed by entities with different operational responsibilities. MEPSO was assigned responsibility for the high-voltage transmission network and for the secure management of the national power system. Its infrastructure includes transmission facilities operating at 400 kV and 110 kV, with a combined network length reported at approximately 2,021 kilometres. The company transports electricity from generating facilities toward distribution networks and major users, while also managing the technical conditions needed to keep the system stable. The restructuring also gave MEPSO a wider institutional role than that of a simple network owner. The company holds licences from North Macedonia's National Energy Regulatory Commission for transmission-system operation and electricity-market operation. Consequently, its remit includes operating the transmission grid, coordinating system operation, supporting electricity balancing, and administering relevant market processes. These activities place MEPSO at the intersection of infrastructure management and electricity-sector governance. The distribution and supply company created during the restructuring was later sold in 2006 to Austria's EVN Group and became EVN Macedonia, later rebranded as EVN AD Skopje. This transaction further separated the retail and distribution functions from MEPSO's transmission role. MEPSO itself remained under full state ownership, preserving the government's direct control over the national transmission asset and the system-operator function. As the national transmission operator, MEPSO also developed an international role through participation in the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity, known as ENTSO-E. Membership connects the company with the wider European community of transmission operators and supports coordination with neighbouring power systems. Cross-border interconnection and regional electricity exchange are important to North Macedonia's electricity security, especially because the national grid operates within a wider Balkan and European network. The company is organized as a joint-stock company but is not presented as a publicly traded consumer-facing corporation. Its operating model is based on regulated infrastructure services and institutional coordination. Its principal long-term responsibilities are maintaining transmission assets, ensuring reliable system operation, facilitating market activity, and supporting the integration of North Macedonia's electricity system with regional and European networks.

• 2006

  Distribution and supply business sold to EVN Group

  [1]MEPSOen.wikipedia.org

  The separate distribution and supply company created during the ESM restructuring was sold to Austria's EVN Group, leaving MEPSO focused on transmission and system operation.

• 2005

  MEPSO established

  [1]MEPSOen.wikipedia.org

  The former ESM monopoly was divided into separate entities, including MEPSO as the state-owned electricity transmission-system operator.

• 2005

  Transmission and market-operation responsibilities assigned

  [1]MEPSOen.wikipedia.org

  MEPSO took responsibility for operating the high-voltage transmission system and for electricity-market operator functions under regulatory licences.

• 2004

  Legal framework for electricity-sector restructuring

  [1]MEPSOen.wikipedia.org

  Legislation concerning the transformation of the electricity company established the basis for separating generation, transmission, and distribution activities.

• Participation in ENTSO-E

  [1]MEPSOen.wikipedia.org

  MEPSO became a member of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity, supporting cooperation with European and regional transmission operators.

A state-owned national infrastructure operator positioned around secure, continuous, and non-discriminatory electricity transmission, power-system coordination, and electricity-market administration.

• Regulated utility service · 2005

  Electricity transmission service

  MEPSO provides the regulated service of transporting electricity across North Macedonia's high-voltage transmission network. The network includes 400 kV and 110 kV infrastructure and links power-generation facilities with distribution systems, large consumers, and cross-border interconnections. The service is focused on availability, security, and continuity rather than retail sales to households.

• Power-system management · 2005

  Transmission-system operation

  As the national transmission-system operator, MEPSO manages the technical operation of the electricity system. Its responsibilities include coordinating power flows, maintaining system balance, supporting reliability, and managing the conditions required for stable operation of the national grid.

• Energy-market administration · 2005

  Electricity-market operator service

  MEPSO also performs electricity-market operator functions under a licence from North Macedonia's National Energy Regulatory Commission. This role supports the administration and coordination of market processes alongside the company's physical-grid responsibilities.

• Regional electricity infrastructure

  Cross-border transmission and interconnection coordination

  Through its interconnections and participation in the European transmission-operator community, MEPSO supports the movement of electricity between North Macedonia and neighbouring systems. This function contributes to regional electricity exchange, system coordination, and national supply security.

1. 1MEPSOen.wikipedia.org