Today, ACER initiates the review of its Decision 30/2020 on the electricity redispatching and countertrading cost sharing methodology for the Core capacity calculation region.
A capacity calculation region is a set of electrically interdependent bidding zone borders, where capacity calculation, regional operational security, redispatching and countertrading costs sharing tasks are coordinated by that region’s transmission system operators (TSOs).
The Core capacity calculation region involves the TSOs and bidding zone borders of Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. It is the biggest European region, involving 13 Member States, 16 TSOs and 19 bidding zone borders.
The cost sharing methodology allocates the costs from redispatching and countertrading remedial actions within a capacity calculation region. These actions are triggered to solve network congestions occurring within the region.
Specifically, this methodology tracks how each action affects congested network elements and assigns the related costs to the responsible TSOs, based on the order of flow types (loop, internal, allocated and power-shifting transformer flows). Loop flows are charged first, however according to the Electricity Regulation, its portion below a given threshold is exempted.
On foot of the ACER Board of Appeal Decision of 31 July 2025, ACER is now revising its Decision 30/2020 and the methodology accordingly.
ACER aims to adopt its Decision by the end of January 2026.
On 26 September 2025, ACER received a proposal from the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) to amend the methodology for the regional procurement of balancing capacity.
Transmission system operators (TSOs) must always keep the power system in balance. TSOs usually procure the balancing capacity needed at national level, but to lower procurement costs, they may opt for utilising available voluntary balancing bids from other countries (e.g. made available when local capacity exceeds national needs). If transmission capacity is expected to be available across bidding zones during balancing, these bids can also be used to reduce balancing capacity needs.
The methodology for the regional procurement of balancing capacity enables regional coordination centres (RCCs) to evaluate how voluntary balancing bids can be utilised effectively across borders. Following this evaluation, regional coordination centres provide TSOs with recommendations to reduce the volume of procured balancing capacity, hence utilising the flexibility of the EU electricity system.
As requested by ACER, European TSOs propose to update the reliability parameters used by regional coordination centres to assess the availability of cross-zonal capacity and voluntary balancing bids. This is important as reliability parameters need to reflect the most relevant data, enabling TSOs to procure balancing capacity efficiently, and at the same time managing their operational risks. This change should foster a more transparent and coordinated process and improve the balancing of EU power system.
ACER will decide by 5 January 2026. Update: ACER published its Decision on from 15 December 2025.
Interested parties may submit comments or questions to ACER-ELE-2025-009@acer.europa.eu by 31 October 2025.
ACER encourages European associations of energy market participants to engage in stakeholder activities supporting REMIT implementation from 2026 to 2028.
We welcome associations with expertise in the areas of electricity, natural gas, liquified natural gas (LNG) and hydrogen, dealing with supply, transportation and storage, including energy derivatives (where relevant for REMIT reporting framework).
The Regulation on Wholesale Energy Market Integrity and Transparency (REMIT) is the EU framework that aims to prevent wholesale energy market abuse and support fair competition. The Regulation was revised in 2024 to keep pace with evolving market dynamics.
To ensure the revised Regulation is implemented effectively and consistently, ACER works closely with different stakeholders across the EU. European associations of energy market participants are key to bringing practical experience and sector-wide perspectives that help align implementation with real market practices.
Associations participating in ACER’s stakeholder activities will:
Engagement may include targeted consultations, roundtable meetings, webinars or other interactive activities, allowing associations to directly contribute to shaping REMIT implementation.
ACER plans to establish two lists of associations:
ACER will seek balanced and diverse participation, representing different energy market segments and expertise at EU level.
Submit your application by 31 October 2025. Late submissions will not be considered.
Today, ACER publishes its biennial Opinion on the draft lists of proposed projects of common interest (PCIs) and projects of mutual interest (PMIs) for 2025.
The PCIs/PMIs lists include energy infrastructure projects prioritised at EU level given their impact to significantly enhance the cross-border links among the energy systems of EU countries (and third-party countries in the case of PMIs). These projects can benefit from accelerated permitting procedures, regulatory treatment and funding, as they are identified as key contributors for integrating renewables, boosting cross-border capacity and advancing Europe’s climate and energy goals.
ACER’s role in the PCIs/PMIs selection process, as defined by the TEN-E Regulation, is to verify that the relevant methodologies and criteria are applied consistently and transparently across regions in the projects’ selection process. A fair and credible process ensures that the most beneficial projects are prioritised in developing trans-European energy infrastructure. ACER’s role is not to give a ‘second opinion’ on the merits of the different projects nor to help decision makers rank such projects for ultimate selection.
In its Opinion, ACER found:
As these obstacles may affect the credibility and robustness of the selection process, ACER recommends to:
By addressing these issues, the PCIs/PMIs selection process will become more transparent, consistent and credible, ensuring Europe invests in the right infrastructure to meet its energy and climate goals.
On 27 March 2025, ACER received the transmission system operators’ (TSOs’) proposal to amend the harmonised allocation rules (HAR) for long-term electricity transmission rights.
The harmonised allocation rules apply to all long-term transmission rights allocations conducted within the European Union, specifying criteria for their auctioning (including use and curtailment of long-term transmission rights, eligibility criteria, etc.).
The TSOs’ proposal included various updates related to arrangements with market participants, reflecting upcoming market changes (e.g. introduction of 15-minute market time unit in the day-ahead electricity market) and recent incidents (e.g. single day-ahead market decoupling in June 2024).
To take an informed decision, ACER consulted stakeholders during Spring 2025.
ACER approves the TSOs' proposal, while adding some clarifications and proposing further reviews on the:
ACER agreed with TSOs to tackle improvements to the collateral requirements in long-term flow-based auctions separately.
TSOs and regulatory authorities should now review nomination rules and multiple NEMOs' arrangements to reflect the latest updates introduced by ACER.
Ahead of the European Commission’s Grids Package proposals (expected in Q4 2025), ACER sets out its recommendations for revising the current legal framework for grids.
Europe’s power grids need to be upgraded, expanded and optimised to connect more planned renewables and thus speed up a cost-efficient clean energy transition.
The European Commission estimated that investment needs for electricity grids will amount to €730 billion for distribution and €477 billion for transmission by 2040.
The European Commission is developing a Grids Package to improve and simplify the current legal framework. This includes the revision and simplification of the 2022 Trans-European Energy Networks Regulation (TEN-E Regulation), a key framework for European energy infrastructure development.
ACER's recommendations address network development aspects (rather than permitting or financing) to improve the efficiency of the EU network planning process and support a cost-effective energy transition. ACER’s focus is on key key areas of network planning and assessment, including:
ACER’s proposals aim to streamline procedures and accelerate the development of key energy infrastructure while reinforcing transparency, regulatory oversight and network planning governance across the EU.
ACER’s recommendations are grouped into two categories: measures aimed at strengthening the TEN-E process to address existing challenges, and those aimed at simplifying the process.
ACER proposes practical measures to simplify the Ten-Year Network Development Plans (TYNDPs), streamline the selection and monitoring of Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) and recognise the value of alternative solutions, such as non-wire options, to increase electricity grid capacity. ACER recommends to:
While some of ACER’s recommendations require amendments to the current legal framework, others could be achieved through better implementation of the existing regulatory framework.
