Free consumer
A free consumer (vabatarbija) was a pre-2013 ELTS construct that segregated large industrial customers eligible to choose their electricity supplier on the open market from smaller customers stuck with the regulated incumbent. ELTS § 13 was formally repealed on 1 January 2013 with universal market opening; every Estonian consumer is now simply a tarbija (§ 12), with default-supply backstop provided through § 76¹ Üldteenus.
A free consumer (vabatarbija) was, until 1 January 2013, a consumer with electricity use above a statutory threshold who therefore had the right to choose their supplier on the open market — as opposed to smaller customers who remained with the regulated incumbent. Estonia opened its electricity market in stages: 35% liberalisation in 2010, full liberalisation on 1 January 2013.
Repealed on full liberalisation
On 1 January 2013, ELTS § 13 (vabatarbija) was formally repealed alongside the universal opening of the Estonian electricity market. Since that date every Estonian consumer has simply been a "tarbija" (consumer per § 12) with the unconditional right to choose any open supplier on the market. The default-supply backstop for small consumers (households + commercial customers up to 63 A on low voltage) moved into ELTS § 76¹ Üldteenus (universal service) — if a small consumer's electricity contract lapses, the local network operator must provide supply at a regulated reasonable price until a new contract is signed.
Why the term still appears
You will still see "vabatarbija" in older Elering handbook material, in legacy contract templates, and in industry conversation as shorthand for "any customer with the right to switch supplier." The legal weight is gone — the term lives on culturally rather than statutorily.