Terna Awards €52.5 Million Power Line Maintenance Frameworks to Italian Contractors

Standfirst:

Italy's electricity transmission operator Terna has awarded two framework agreements worth a combined €52.5 million for maintenance, emergency intervention and construction work on high voltage power lines and fibre optic infrastructure. The contracts cover central and southern Italy and Sicily, placing Italian small and medium sized contractors at the centre of work needed to keep the national transmission network reliable and responsive.

Introduction

Electricity networks are tested not only by rising demand or the transition to renewable energy, but also by how quickly operators can respond when ageing equipment, severe weather or unexpected faults threaten the flow of power.

In Italy, Terna SpA is strengthening that operational safety net through long term framework agreements covering maintenance, emergency response and construction work on overhead power lines operating at voltage levels of up to 220 kilovolts, alongside the fibre optic systems that support the country's electricity transmission network.

The two awarded lots have a combined reestimated value of €52.5 million. One has been awarded to a temporary consortium led by ELETTROVIT S.r.l., while the second has gone to CONSORZIO STABILE ITALWORK. Together, the awards show how essential grid maintenance is increasingly being organised through flexible, multi year contracting arrangements that allow work to be mobilised when and where it is needed.

Why This Contract Matters

High voltage transmission lines form the backbone of Italy's electricity system. They carry large volumes of power across regions, connect generation facilities with consumption centres and support the secure operation of the wider national grid.

Maintaining those assets is continuous work. Transmission lines require inspections, repairs, component replacement and rapid intervention when technical failures or external events affect their operation. Delays can increase the risk of outages, raise maintenance costs and place additional pressure on other parts of the network.

The fibre optic infrastructure included in these contracts is also strategically important. Modern electricity grids depend on communications systems to exchange operational data, monitor network conditions and coordinate the safe management of transmission assets. The contracts therefore support both the physical and digital layers of Italy's electricity network.

For suppliers, the awards highlight sustained demand for specialist electrical construction, grid maintenance, emergency response, telecommunications infrastructure and technical field services.

Contract Timeline

• 22 December 2023: The winning consortium for Lot 5 was selected.
• 5 June 2024: The framework contract for Lot 5 was concluded.
• 6 April 2026: CONSORZIO STABILE ITALWORK was selected as the winner of Lot 8.
• 17 June 2026: The framework contract for Lot 8 was concluded.
• 15 July 2026: The contract award notice was published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
• Initial Contract Duration: 24 months for each awarded lot.
• Extension Option: A further 12 months may be activated.

Contract Overview

The procurement establishes framework agreements for maintenance, emergency intervention and construction work on single conductor high voltage power lines operating at up to 220kV, together with work on fibre optic systems forming part of Italy's national electricity transmission network.

Two contract areas are covered by the award notice. Lot 5 relates to Terna's central and southern transmission operations and includes work connected with the Sicily Transmission District. Lot 8 focuses specifically on the Sicily Transmission District.

The framework structure gives Terna the ability to order required work during the contract period without reopening a new competition for every individual maintenance or emergency requirement. This approach is particularly useful in electricity infrastructure, where the timing and location of interventions cannot always be predicted in advance.

Key Contract Details

Project Scope

The contracts cover maintenance, emergency response and construction activities involving overhead electricity transmission lines with voltage levels of up to 220kV. A kilovolt or kV, is a unit used to measure electrical voltage. Networks operating at this level carry large amounts of electricity over long distances and form an important part of the transmission system.

The scope may require contractors to respond to both planned and unplanned infrastructure needs. Planned work can include maintenance and renewal activities intended to preserve asset performance, while emergency intervention allows Terna to mobilise specialist teams when faults or damage require urgent attention.

The framework also covers fibre optic systems associated with the national transmission network. These communications assets help support monitoring, operational coordination and the exchange of information across the electricity system.

Lot 5 covers work linked to Terna's Central and Southern Transmission Department and the Sicily Transmission District. Lot 8 is focused on the Sicily Transmission District, where reliable electricity infrastructure is particularly important because an island grid requires careful coordination between local generation, transmission assets and interconnections with the mainland.

About the Contracting Entity

TERNA SpA

TERNA SpA is the contracting entity, the organisation financing the contracts, executing payments and signing the framework agreements. It is responsible for electricity related activities and manages Italy's national high voltage transmission network.

Its role is to maintain the secure balance between electricity supply and demand while operating and developing the infrastructure that moves power across the country. The company also coordinates investment in transmission capacity, network resilience and infrastructure required to support changes in Italy's energy system.

For these contracts, Terna is not procuring a single construction project with a fixed delivery site. It is establishing a flexible maintenance and intervention capability that can be used across defined transmission areas during the framework period.

About the Organisations Involved

ELETTROVIT S.r.l. – Lead Member of the Lot 5 Consortium

ELETTROVIT S.r.l. leads the temporary grouping of contractors selected for Lot 5. As the consortium's lead company or capogruppo, it serves as the principal member of the tendering group and coordinates the consortium's contractual role.

The award notice classifies the winning grouping as a micro, small or medium sized economic operator. Its success demonstrates that specialist SMEs can compete for substantial electricity infrastructure frameworks when technical capabilities are combined through structured partnerships.

DELTA S.r.l. – Consortium Member

DELTA S.r.l. participates in the Lot 5 winning consortium as a member company, referred to in the notice as a mandante. Its inclusion expands the collective resources and specialist capabilities available to the group for carrying out maintenance, emergency intervention and power infrastructure work.

FIORE S.r.l. – Consortium Member

FIORE S.r.l. is another participating member of the temporary contractor grouping led by ELETTROVIT. The consortium structure allows the companies to combine technical expertise, personnel and operational capacity for work across a geographically broad transmission area.

COPPOLA ANTONINO & C. S.r.l. – Consortium Member

COPPOLA ANTONINO & C. S.r.l. completes the four company grouping awarded Lot 5. The company participates as a consortium member alongside DELTA and FIORE under the leadership of ELETTROVIT.

Together, the four companies form the successful tendering group for the €35.7 million Lot 5 framework. The contracting authority has not disclosed the individual allocation of work or responsibilities among the consortium members.

CONSORZIO STABILE ITALWORK – Winner of Lot 8

CONSORZIO STABILE ITALWORK was selected for Lot 8, covering maintenance, emergency intervention and works associated with high voltage transmission lines and fibre optic infrastructure in Sicily.

The organisation is identified as an Italian SME and is based in Guardiagrele in the province of Chieti. Its framework has been re estimated at €16.8 million and will provide Terna with a dedicated contracting structure for work in the Sicily Transmission District.

The notice does not identify subcontractors for the awarded contract. The extent of any future subcontracting arrangements is not yet known.

TAR Tribunale Amministrativo Regionale Lazio

The Regional Administrative Court of Lazio acts as the mediation and procurement review authority for the contracts. It is also responsible for providing information concerning review procedures.

Its inclusion establishes the legal route through which procurement related challenges or disputes may be reviewed under Italy's administrative justice system.

Procurement Analysis

Terna used a negotiated procedure with prior publication of a call for competition. Unlike a direct award, this approach begins with a publicly announced procurement opportunity but allows the contracting entity to negotiate aspects of the contract with qualified participants before selecting the successful tenderers.

Such procedures can be useful for complex utility sector contracts where technical capability, operational readiness and the ability to respond across multiple locations are important. Electricity transmission work involves safety critical infrastructure and requires contractors capable of operating under demanding technical and regulatory conditions.

The competition attracted seven tenders for Lot 5 and six for Lot 8. All bids recorded for both lots came from SMEs registered in Italy. No tenders were received from economic operators based in other European Economic Area countries or from outside the EEA.

This indicates meaningful domestic competition while also showing the importance of local operational capacity in electricity network maintenance. Contractors must be able to mobilise trained personnel, specialist equipment and emergency response resources within the regions covered by the framework.

Additional Procurement Facts

• Procurement Directive: Directive 2014/25/EU, governing procurement by entities operating in utility sectors.
• Contract Type: Works.
• Framework Structure: Framework agreements without reopening competition.
• Dynamic Purchasing System: Not used.
• GPA Status: The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement.
• Lot 5 Competition: Seven electronic tenders were received.
• Lot 8 Competition: Six electronic tenders were received.
• SME Participation: All recorded bids for both awarded lots came from micro, small or medium sized enterprises.
• Foreign Participation: No bids were recorded from tenderers established outside Italy.
• Variants: The winning tenders were not variants.
• Country of Origin: Italy.
• Subcontracting: Not yet known.
• Review and Mediation Authority: TAR Tribunale Amministrativo Regionale Lazio.

Market & Industry Perspective

Electricity transmission maintenance is becoming more strategically important as power systems carry larger volumes of renewable electricity and operate under increasingly complex conditions. New grid infrastructure attracts attention, but the reliability of existing assets remains equally important to energy security.

Framework agreements give transmission operators a practical way to maintain access to qualified contractors without launching a separate procurement process for every repair, maintenance activity or emergency intervention. They can also improve response times by establishing contractual terms and supplier relationships in advance.

The inclusion of fibre optic systems reflects the growing convergence between electricity infrastructure and telecommunications. Modern grid operations depend on communications networks for monitoring, protection, control and operational coordination, creating opportunities for suppliers whose capabilities extend beyond conventional power line construction.

Future procurement opportunities are likely to emerge from grid reinforcement, asset renewal, renewable energy integration and the continued digitalisation of transmission infrastructure, increasing demand for contractors able to combine electrical engineering with communications and rapid response capabilities.

Economic Significance

The €52.5 million combined value of the two frameworks represents a substantial pipeline of potential work for the selected contractors and their supply chains. Because framework agreements establish the terms for future work rather than guaranteeing that the full ceiling will be spent immediately, actual activity will depend on Terna's maintenance, construction and emergency requirements during the contract period.

The contracts can support demand for skilled electrical workers, engineering personnel, specialist equipment, transport services, safety systems and locally based technical teams across central and southern Italy and Sicily.

They also illustrate how electricity infrastructure spending can create opportunities for SMEs. Rather than being awarded only to large multinational engineering groups, both frameworks have gone to Italian small and medium sized operators, including a multi company contractor grouping.

Future Procurement Opportunities

Italy's electricity network will require continued investment as renewable generation expands, electricity demand changes and the transmission system becomes more digital and interconnected. This is likely to generate future procurement across grid construction, maintenance, communications infrastructure and network resilience.

Potential areas of opportunity include high voltage line maintenance, substation upgrades, fibre optic installation, emergency restoration, vegetation management, structural inspection, replacement of ageing transmission components and digital network monitoring.

The 12 month extension options attached to both lots could also create additional work beyond the initial 24 month term. Lot 5 includes an option valued at €18.7 million, while Lot 8 includes an option valued at €8.8 million.

Suppliers should also watch for future framework renewals as the current agreements approach expiry. Contractors that build a strong record in safety, mobilisation and delivery may be better positioned when Terna returns to the market.

Opportunities for Suppliers

Although the principal frameworks have already been awarded, their implementation may generate opportunities across the wider electricity infrastructure supply chain.

• High voltage electrical equipment and component suppliers.
• Transmission tower and overhead line specialists.
• Fibre optic cable and telecommunications infrastructure providers.
• Electrical engineering and technical consultancy firms.
• Emergency repair and rapid response contractors.
• Inspection, testing and condition monitoring specialists.
• Health, safety and environmental service providers.
• Specialist equipment rental and logistics companies.
• Training and certification providers for high voltage field personnel.

Subcontracting arrangements have not yet been disclosed. Suppliers interested in secondary opportunities may benefit from monitoring the winning organisations and developing relationships with the contractors responsible for framework delivery.

What Businesses Should Watch

• Future Terna framework agreements for transmission line maintenance and emergency response.
• Whether Terna activates the additional 12 month options for Lots 5 and 8.
• Further investment in electricity infrastructure across Sicily and southern Italy.
• Procurement linked to renewable energy integration and increased grid capacity.
• New demand for fibre optic systems supporting digital electricity networks.
• Subcontracting and specialist supply opportunities generated during framework implementation.
• Future renewals as the awarded framework periods approach completion.

Italytenders.com Procurement Intelligence

This award reflects three procurement trends shaping Europe's electricity infrastructure market.

1. Grid Maintenance Is Becoming a Strategic Investment

Energy transition programmes are often associated with new renewable projects and major transmission corridors. However, the reliability of existing power lines remains fundamental. Maintenance and emergency response frameworks are becoming long term infrastructure tools rather than routine operational purchases.

2. Framework Agreements Are Supporting Faster Grid Response

By awarding frameworks without reopening competition, Terna can call on selected contractors as requirements arise. This reduces repeated procurement activity and may support faster mobilisation when urgent work is required.

3. SME Collaboration Is Expanding Access to Major Utility Contracts

The Lot 5 award demonstrates how smaller contractors can combine their capabilities through temporary groupings to compete for large, technically demanding infrastructure contracts. For specialist suppliers, partnership can be as important as scale.

4. Electricity and Communications Infrastructure Are Converging

The inclusion of fibre optic systems shows that transmission networks are no longer purely electrical assets. Future contractors will increasingly need capabilities spanning power engineering, telecommunications, data connectivity and digital network operations.

5. Local Delivery Capacity Remains a Competitive Advantage

All tenders recorded for the two lots came from Italian SMEs. For maintenance and emergency response contracts, the ability to mobilise skilled teams quickly may be a decisive commercial advantage alongside technical competence and pricing.

Supplier Takeaways

• Monitor Terna's future maintenance, construction and grid modernisation procurement.
• Develop capabilities across both high voltage electricity infrastructure and fibre optic communications.
• Consider consortium partnerships when individual capacity is insufficient for large regional frameworks.
• Maintain strong safety credentials and technical qualifications for work on operational transmission assets.
• Build regional mobilisation capacity to support emergency response requirements.
• Track subcontracting opportunities linked to ELETTROVIT's consortium and CONSORZIO STABILE ITALWORK.
• Prepare for future framework renewals and electricity grid investment programmes.

Key Takeaways

• Terna has awarded two electricity infrastructure framework agreements with a combined reestimated value of €52.5 million.
• The contracts cover maintenance, emergency intervention and works on transmission lines operating at up to 220kV and associated fibre optic systems.
• Lot 5, valued at €35.7 million, was awarded to a consortium led by ELETTROVIT S.r.l. with DELTA S.r.l., FIORE S.r.l. and COPPOLA ANTONINO & C. S.r.l.
• Lot 8, valued at €16.8 million, was awarded to CONSORZIO STABILE ITALWORK.
• Both frameworks have an initial duration of 24 months and include options for a further 12 months.
• Seven bids were received for Lot 5 and six for Lot 8, all from Italian SMEs.
• The framework agreements will operate without reopening competition for individual requirements.
• The awards highlight growing opportunities at the intersection of electricity infrastructure, maintenance and fibre optic communications.

Conclusion

Italy's energy transition will depend not only on new power plants, interconnectors and major grid expansion projects. It will also depend on the less visible work of maintaining transmission lines, repairing faults and keeping the communications systems behind the electricity network operational.

Through these €52.5 million framework agreements, Terna is securing specialist capacity across central and southern Italy and Sicily while giving Italian SMEs a significant role in the maintenance of nationally important infrastructure.

For suppliers, the message extends beyond the two awards. Electricity networks are becoming larger, more digital and more dependent on rapid operational response. Companies able to combine technical expertise, regional delivery capacity and strategic partnerships will be well placed for the next generation of grid procurement opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What work is covered by Terna's framework agreements?

The contracts cover maintenance, emergency intervention and construction work on high voltage overhead power lines operating at up to 220kV, together with fibre optic systems connected to Italy's national electricity transmission network.

What is the combined value of the awarded frameworks?

The two framework agreements have a combined reestimated value of €52.5 million. Lot 5 is valued at €35.7 million and Lot 8 at €16.8 million.

Who won Lot 5?

Lot 5 was awarded to a temporary contractor grouping led by ELETTROVIT S.r.l., with DELTA S.r.l., FIORE S.r.l. and COPPOLA ANTONINO & C. S.r.l. participating as consortium members.

Who won Lot 8?

Lot 8 was awarded to CONSORZIO STABILE ITALWORK.

How long will the framework agreements run?

Each framework has an initial duration of 24 months and includes an option for a further 12 month extension.

How many bids were received?

Terna received seven tenders for Lot 5 and six tenders for Lot 8. All recorded bids came from Italian micro, small or medium sized enterprises.

Will Terna run a new competition for every work order?

No. The contracts are framework agreements without reopening competition, allowing Terna to issue work requirements under the agreed framework conditions.

Why are fibre optic systems included in an electricity infrastructure contract?

Fibre optic networks support communication, monitoring, protection and operational coordination across modern electricity transmission systems. They form an important part of the digital infrastructure behind reliable grid operation.

Are subcontracting opportunities available?

The award notice states that subcontracting information is not yet known. Specialist suppliers should monitor the winning contractors for future partnership and subcontracting opportunities.

What is the source of this article?

Source: Tenders Electronic Daily (TED), Contract Award Notice 489792-2026, published on 15 July 2026.