HEP and international associations

CIGRE (International Council on Large Electric Systems)

CIGRE, based in Paris, has existed since 1921. It is an association of electricity specialists from electricity companies, electricity industry, universities and institutes from 97 countries. Every two years, Biennial Session is organized in Paris with participation of some 2,500 experts for exchange of experiences and knowledge and presentation of new products relating to planning, construction and maintenance of power plants and facilities. Fifty-four countries have their national branches. The Croatian branch was founded in 1992 when it became a member of the international CIGRE.

CIGRE National Committee Croatia HRO CIGRE has 15 study committees, whose members come from HEP for the most part. Every two years  HRO CIGRE organizes a national conference, held traditionally in Cavtat.

UCTE (Union for the Co-ordination of Transmission of Electricity)

Founded in 1951 as UCTE (Union for Coordination of Production and Transmission of Electricity). In 1999 the name was changed to UCTE, and since 2001  it is an association of transmission system operators. HEP has been a full member since 1991, initially in a joint block with Slovenia, and after 2001 independently. After the foundation of the transmission system operator HEP OPS  (April 2005), as was the practice other member countries,  transfer was requested of UCTE membership from HEP d.d. to HEP OPS. Also, HEP OPS took over a two-year presidency over SUDEL (regional organization of transmission system operators).
The most important event for HEP with respect to the UCTE was the reconnection of UCTE synchronous zones 1 and 2, carried out on October 10, 2004 from the National Dispatch Center in Zagreb. The gradual switching on of the 400 kV lines between the western and southeastern part of Europe established a single interconnected system of the UCTE, which had been split 1991 during the aggression on Croatia and destruction of the 400/110 kV Ernestinovo substation.

EURELECTRIC (Union of the Electricity Industry) The Union, based in Zurich, was formed in 1990 by merging UNIPEDE and the then EURELECTRIC for the purpose of bringing together electricity organizations of Europe. One of the founders of UNIPEDE in 1925 was the company “Ante Šupuk i sin” from Šibenik. EURELECTRIC’s  mission is to contribute to the development and competitiveness of the electricity industry and to promote the role of electricity in society.
HEP has  been participating in the work of the Union since 1990 as an associate member and since 2004 as a full member. For instance, HEP is a participant in a sustainable development program, Energy Wisdom Programme.  

CIRED (International Conference on Electricity Distribution) The organization was founded in 1971 with a seat in Liege, Belgium.  It deals with technical and scientific issues in the field of electricity distribution, from technological aspects to cost, environmental and organizational issues.

The activities of the Croatian branch of CIRED, which was founded in 2006, focus on the issues related to electricity distribution system, including design, construction, operation, maintenance, organization and management. 

LWA (Live Working Association) The association brings together 15 European countries which use live work technology in their electric networks. It was founded in 1992 and Croatia has been a full member since 2008. Every two years an international conference is organized, ICOLIM, to present advances in live work technology for different voltage levels of distribution and transmission network. HEP regularly participates in ICOLIM conferences.

HEP and/or HEP Group companies are members of other international organizations such as:

• UNICHAL Euroheat & Power
• ICOLD International Commission on Large Dams; HEP hosted the international conference on the theme of remediation of Peruća Dam

IHA, International Hydropower Association ; HEP hosted the international conference HYDRO 2003.