In order to increase the reliability of supply and to assist in further developing the EU internal electricity market, network transmission capacity has to be enhanced, bottlenecks removed and the transmission system infrastructure modernised. The ČEPS investment plan comprises the reinforcement of power lines in the north-south direction, following the Poland to Austria route. The enhancement of transmission capacities on interconnectors and the upgrading of transmission lines extending from the northern Bohemia region, where a number of brown coal power stations are located, eastward are also envisaged in the Company’s investment plan. Importantly, the latter direction corresponds with the route from Germany to Poland and Slovakia and onward to eastern and south-eastern Europe hence the development of the Czech transmission system is of European as well as domestic importance.

ČEPS invested more than CZK 2.5 billion in 2010. During the years to come the Company plans to invest an average of CZK 4.5 billion annually; more than CZK 60 billion will have been invested by 2023 on the construction of five new 400kV substations and 675km of new 400kV power lines, the enhancement of the transmission capacity of certain existing lines, the completion of the conversion of substations to remote control operation and other projects.

A sophisticated security system aimed at ensuring the protection of Company transformer station buildings and structures has been installed and control centres modernised. The ČEPS investment plan will bring about fundamental changes in the transmission parameters throughout the whole of the network. Transmission capacity will be enhanced to cope with the connection of new (renewable) generating sources in the future. As a result, international cooperation will be strengthened and the security and reliability of electricity supply to end customers substantially improved.

List of reinforcing power lines and substations: