RARIK was established on 2nd April, 1946, and started operations in January the following year. RARIK has worked on developing various power projects throughout Iceland, such as the electrification of rural areas and interconnecting districts with high voltage system. RARIK also laid extensive system of transmission lines between the country's various regions, constructing an integrated power grid stretching around all of Iceland. RARIK has been the leading force behind these developments, and thanks to the extensive interconnected power grid, the whole country can now benefit from every harnessed hydro-electric or geothermal power source.
The history of RARIK (Iceland State Electricity) is closely connected to the republic's own history, as electrical and industrial development went hand in hand in Iceland. By devoting its energy to building an electric power transmission and distribution system for the country's rural as well as urban areas, RARIK has played an important role in the development of individual regions in Iceland.
Originally set up to implement electrification in Iceland, in particular in regional parts of the country, RARIK today procures, transmits, distributes and sells power, and also offers know-how and consultancy services in these fields. In response to future challenges, the company has been increasingly focusing on marketing and customer services.
