The electricity system consists of three phases: generation, transmission and distribution of electricity.
Electricity does not exist as a natural resource and it is therefore necessary to generate it. Generating energy means transforming into “electricity” the power obtained from primary sources. This transformation occurs in power plants.
High Voltage electricity transmission (380 kV - 220 kV - 150 kV) is Terna’s task. Transmitting electricity means transferring the power produced in the plants to consumer areas. In order for this to occur, lines, power and transformation plants are necessary, that is the elements that form the Transmission Grid, a total of over 63.000 kilometres of lines owned and managed by Terna.
Terna operates the National Transmission Grid and the electricity flows for Italy under security conditions through dispatching: keeping the electricity supply and demand in balance, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
The last phase of the electricity generation process is represented by distribution, that is the delivery of medium and low voltage electricity to users.