The Chairperson (following a recommendation of the ESC) can propose to set up ad-hoc Expert Groups (EGs) to focus on specific issues and projects. These groups report to the ESC, which may provide input to their discussions and request specific actions, reports or explanations.
Monitoring the implementation of Grid Connection Codes
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ACER, together with the European Network of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E), oversees the implementation of the Grid Connection Network Codes to ensure they promote market integration, prevent discrimination, encourage effective competition, and contribute to the efficient functioning of the European electricity markets.
To do so, ACER issues implementation monitoring reports on the status of every Term, Condition, or Methodology (TCM), and provides continuous oversight of specific implementation aspects (e.g., if national derogation decisions apply, lifting specific obligations from the network code).
In case a justification is missing, ACER may issue a reasoned recommendation to a regulatory authority to revoke the derogation.
The RECORD tool
NRAs must maintain a register of all derogations they have granted (or refused) and provide ACER with an updated register at least once every six months. ACER then monitors and analyses the information provided.
ACER’s RECORD tool provides a centralised register where regulatory and other relevant authorities can log all derogation and revocation decisions. The tool also serves as a single source of information for stakeholders wishing to access derogation criteria as defined by the NRAs or the Member States’ relevant authorities and their decisions.
The document provides an updated analysis of the compliance issues identified in previous monitoring exercises by clustering them in seven topics concerning NC RfG and seven topics concerning NC DC and NC HVDC, including:
the approval of the requirements of general applications, and
the presence of discrepancies (at national level) compared to the values in the corresponding Network Codes.
As the Regulations do not foresee approvals by more than one regulatory authority, the Agency will not be asked to adopt decisions when regulatory authorities cannot agree on terms, conditions and methodologies.
RfG Implementation
The Agency monitors the procedure of granting derogations from one or more provisions of the RfG Regulation.
The relevant regulatory authority decides which power-generating modules should be classified as an emerging technology. Any regulatory authority of the relevant synchronous area may request a prior opinion from the Agency, which shall be issued within three months after receiving the request. The decision of the relevant regulatory authority shall then take into account the Agency's opinion.
All regulatory authorities of a synchronous area may also decide in a coordinated manner to withdraw a classification as an emerging technology. Also in this case, the regulatory authorities of the synchronous area concerned may request a prior opinion from the Agency, which shall be issued within three months. Where applicable, the coordinated decision of the regulatory authorities shall take into account ACER's opinion.
The accumulated sales of power-generating modules classified as emerging technology are also made available by the national regulatory authorities every two months.
RfG Implementation
Documents
The Agency monitors the procedure of granting derogations from one or more provisions of the DCC Regulation. The Agency may issue a reasoned recommendation to a regulatory authority to revoke a derogation, in case justification is missing.
The Agency monitors the procedure of granting derogations from one or more provisions of the HVDC Regulation. The Agency may issue a reasoned recommendation to a regulatory authority to revoke a derogation, in case justification is missing.
The codes are crucial for ensuring the safety of system operation and the efficiency of the European Union's power grid.
Connection Codes
Grid Connection Codes
Grid connection refers to all the subjects establishing and maintaining a physical connection between the transmission and/or distribution grids and the grid users.
Grid connection, or network connection, is one of the areas regulated by the specific network codes. These rules aim to develop a harmonised electricity grid connection regime, as well as efficient and secure operations. This is particularly important in view of the integration of an increasing share of sources of renewable energy in the system. European rules on grid connection also ensure a fair competition in the electricity market, and facilitate the electricity trade across the Union.
Three network codes on grid connection have been developed:
The Network Code on requirements for grid connection of generators (RfG Regulation) establishes common standards that generators must respect to connect to the grid.
The Network Code on demand connection (DCC Regulation) sets up harmonised requirements that demand facilities must respect to connect to the grid.
The Network Code on requirements for grid connection of high voltage direct current systems (HVDC Regulation) covers the definition of harmonised standards for direct current (DC) connections.
The Risk Preparedness Regulation introduces important rules for the cooperation between Member States with the aim to prevent, prepare for, and manage electricity crises. It also establishes common provisions for risk assessment, risk preparedness plans, managing electricity crises, evaluation and monitoring.
Each Member State's competent authority must establish a risk-preparedness plan, based on the regional and national electricity crisis scenarios. This plan consists of national, regional and where applicable, bilateral measures planned or taken to prevent, prepare for and mitigate electricity crises.
The Regulation foresees the adoption of two methodologies during the course of 2020:
methodology for identifying regional electricity crisis scenarios
methodology for short-term and seasonal adequacy assessment.
Risk preparedness
Methodology for identifying regional electricity crisis scenarios
In the interest of EU electricity security of supply, EU law requires ENTSO-E to identify the most relevant regional electricity crisis scenarios (following a methodology approved by ACER). The methodology is required to consider system adequacy, system security and fuel security. It also must include an analysis of all relevant national and regional circumstances, simulations of simultaneous electricity crisis scenarios, ranking of risks, as well as probability and principles on how to handle sensitive information in a transparent manner.
On 8 March 2024, ACER issued its Decision on the amendment to the methodology for identifying regional electricity crisis scenarios. This ACER Decision follows extensive public consultations by ENTSO-E (in Spring and Autumn 2023), by ACER with the Electricity Coordination Group (composed only of the Member States' representatives), NRAs and ENTSO-E. The improved methodology reflects amendments that ACER deems necessary to ENTSO-E’s proposal (submitted on 8 January 2024).
Risk preparedness
Assessing short-term adequacy
Every two weeks, regional coordination centres (RCCs) take turns performing daily assessments of potential EU-wide adequacy issues (i.e. whether the electricity system will have enough supply to meet demand) over the next seven days.
These assessments are carried out through a dedicated tool, developed under the EU methodology for short-term and seasonal adequacy assessments and approved by ACER in 2020. The tool combines probabilistic and deterministic calculations to identify potential adequacy risks. If an EU-wide assessment detects possible concerns, this can trigger a more detailed assessment at regional level.
In 2025, ACER launched an implementation monitoring exercise to evaluate how consistently RCCs apply the EU methodology. Results show uniform progress, with implementation currently at 60% across all RCCs.
ACER’s monitoring also found that, although RCCs identified some potential adequacy concerns over the years, none were flagged as requiring further analysis. As a result, no regional adequacy assessments were initiated in 2022, 2023 or 2024.
ACER’s findings from this monitoring exercise are presented in its interactive dashboard:
A capacity mechanism is a temporary measure introduced by Member States to remunerate capacity resources (e.g. generators, demand-response or storage units) for security of supply services.
Capacity mechanisms can be introduced or maintained only if a resource adequacy concern has been identified, and should be open to cross-border participation.
The ACER-CEER Market Monitoring Reports includes topics related to security of supply, estimating the cost incurred for the capacity mechanisms in operation or under consideration.
A secure supply of electricity is crucial for the European Union. As electricity powers homes and businesses across Europe, consumers increasingly rely on its continuous availability.
Security of supply is one of the five mutually reinforcing dimensions of the Energy Union strategy. In responding to current challenges, the Energy Union facilitates energy market integration, which is essential for a stable supply.
At the core of the Energy Union
ACER is committed to enable a high-level of security of supply in a cost efficient and non-discriminatory manner.
Well-functioning wholesale markets contribute to this goal. However, regulatory distortions or other issues may prevent electricity prices from reflecting their true value when security of supply is at risk, possibly leading to underinvestment and security of supply issues.
In this case, additional measures may be needed to increase security of supply. Such measures can include removing regulatory distortions and introducing temporary capacity mechanisms.
Risk-preparedness also ensures that risks related to security of supply are identified in a timely and consistent manner, as well as they are properly monitored and mitigated.
