Georgian State Electrosystem

Georgian State Electrosystem (GSE) is the single Electricity Transmission System Operator (TSO) acting in Georgia. In this status, GSE provides the overall coordination of the country's electricity system and balancing of electricity supply and demand. The company also regulates the exchange of electricity with neighboring countries and is actively cooperating with network operators in neighboring countries. GSE, as the single TSO, is responsible to balancing the power supply and demand, also reliable power supply in real time.

General Information
GSE is a joint stock company owned by the LEPL National Agency of State Property, while its management rights are transferred to the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia.

The transmission network is managed by the National Dispatch Center and its technical maintenance is provided by the 4 regional networks (East, West, South and Kakheti). GSE also manages the cross-border transmission lines interconnecting with the neighboring countries: Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. To perform repairs, the company implements the scheduled outages of system-wide transmission lines and substations, and temporarily restricts the power supply, if necessary. The company develops relay protection schemes and analyzes accidents in the network. To use energy resources optimally, the National Dispatch Centre located at GSE headquarters coordinates the activities of electricity market participants. It also manages the transmission network in standard and emergency situations

History
JSC Georgian State Electrosystem was established in 2002 through the merger of Electrodispetcherizatsia Ltd. and JSC Elektrogadatsema. Since December 2002, GSE management has been carried out by the Irish company ESB International which had acquired the company 5-year management right in the tender “Wholesale Electricity Market Support Project” announced by the World Bank. In 2007, after the completion of the project, the management of GSE was transferred to the Georgian board of directors.

The director general of the company is George Gigineishvili.

Recently, Transparency International Georgia has documented a web of nepotistic appointments at the GSE, especially around one of its directors in the Environmental, Social Affairs, and Permits department, who has employed several relatives and friends.