Fingrid Group to have a new operating model as of 1 February 2001

Fingrid Oyj, which is responsible for the main electricity transmission grid in Finland, will revise its operating model as of 1 February 2001. Regional grid operation and maintenance will be centralised at Fingrid's Hämeenlinna, Petäjävesi, Oulu and Varkaus offices. The operational control of the 110 kilovolt (kV) grid will be transferred to Hämeenlinna on 1 October 2001. Local operation and some of the maintenance services will be outsourced.Fingrid has made agreements on the business transactions concerning local operation services, telecommunications maintenance services as well as measuring and testing services with Fortum Service Oy, Suomen Voimatekniikka Oy, Länsitec Oy, Savon Voima Oy and Railtelia Oy, which are specialised in operation and maintenance services. As of 1 February 2001, a total of 45 Fingrid employees will be transferred to these companies as so-called old employees. Fingrid will also gradually give up its offices in Imatra, Raisio, Seinäjoki and Vantaa during 2001.

In accordance with the new operating model, a new grid centre will be established in Hämeenlinna alongside the present power system control centre. The grid centre will be responsible for grid control, disturbance management as well as outage co-ordination and implementation in the 110 kV grid. This centre will start operations on 1 October 2001.

The objective of the new operating model enabled by advanced technology is to improve the overall management of the main transmission grid. Fingrid manages a total of 14,000 kilometres of 110, 220 and 400 kV transmission lines plus 100 substations. The agreements made with specialised service providers will ensure the geographical coverage of the necessary maintenance services and constant improvement in quality.

Additional information:
Kari Kuusela, Director, Fingrid Oyj + 358 30 395 5129, + 358 40 502 7333
Eero Kokkonen, President, Fingrid System Oy + 358 30 395 4229, + 358 40 500 4625