HOPS conducts the procurement of balancing services, i.e. aFRR and mFRR balancing capacity and/or balancing energy, through public tendering procedures.
The following provides basic information on the procurement procedure.
How to become a Balancing Service Provider of aFRR and/or mFRR balancing capacity and balancing energy?
In accordance with the Rules on the Balancing of the Electricity System (HOPS 12/2023) and the Amendments to the Rules on the Balancing of the Electricity System (HOPS 4/2026), the following steps are required:
1. Fulfil the prequalification requirements
- Technical capability to provide balancing services is demonstrated through the prequalification procedure.
- Upon successful completion of the prequalification procedure, a certificate of qualification to provide balancing services is issued.
2. Conclude a Balancing Service Agreement with HOPS
- Any potential participant in the balancing market holding a certificate of qualification to provide balancing services may conclude a Balancing Service Agreement with HOPS.
- All potential participants in the balancing market that have concluded a Balancing Service Agreement with HOPS are defined as Balancing Service Providers and are included in the Balancing Service Provider Register.
What happens after concluding the Balancing Service Agreement?
All Balancing Service Providers holding a valid:
- aFRR Balancing Service Agreement are entitled to participate in public tenders for the procurement of aFRR balancing capacity and/or balancing energy and to submit aFRR balancing capacity and/or balancing energy bids to HOPS.
- mFRR Balancing Service Agreement are entitled to participate in public tenders for the procurement of mFRR balancing capacity and/or balancing energy and to submit mFRR balancing capacity and/or balancing energy bids to HOPS.
Applicable tendering rules
From 1 January 2026 until 08:00 on 15 September 2026, public tenders for:
- aFRR balancing capacity and/or balancing energy are conducted in accordance with the Rules for the Procurement of aFRR Balancing Capacity and/or Balancing Energy (November 2025).
- mFRR balancing capacity and/or balancing energy are conducted in accordance with the Rules for the Procurement of mFRR Balancing Capacity and/or Balancing Energy (November 2025).
From 08:00 on 15 September 2026, public tenders for the procurement of aFRR and mFRR balancing capacity and/or balancing energy are conducted in accordance with the Rules for the Procurement of aFRR and mFRR Balancing Capacity and/or Balancing Energy, September 2026 (HOPS 9/2026).
Process overview
