The EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) launches today a public consultation inviting stakeholders to submit their views on the new framework guidelines on scenarios for network development planning (Scenarios Guidelines).

The procedure to adopt new Scenarios Guidelines that will be used in the electricity and gas Ten-Year Network Development Plans (TYNDPs) was initiated in July 2022.

In order to make an informed and inclusive decision on these Guidelines, ACER will collect views on draft guidelines from the stakeholders in a public consultation that will run until 14 November 2022.

Background

Every two years, the European Network of Transmission System Operators  for Electricity (ENTSO-E) and  for Gas (ENTSOG) prepare joint scenarios which set the basis for the future network development planning in the European Union.

Scenarios include a set of assumptions about energy demand and supply evolutions which aim at supporting the biennial Union-wide TYNDPs. These TYNDP processes feed into the identification and selection of Projects of Common Interest, which play an important role in making the infrastructure ready to achieve the energy and climate policy objectives.

The recasted TEN-E Regulation requires that the TYNDP joint scenarios must be transparent, non-discriminatory and robust.   

What is the role of ACER?

To ensure these TYNDP scenarios meet those criteria and are as well in line with the European Union’s climate and energy objectives, ACER is first drafting and then adopting Scenario Guidelines. ENTSO-E and ENTSOG shall follow these Scenarios Guidelines for developing the joint scenarios.

Next steps

After the Public Consultation, ACER will evaluate the received feedback and take it into consideration when finalising the Guidelines.

ACER’s Scenarios Guidelines will be adopted by 24 January 2023. ACER will organise an online webinar on 26 January 2023 to explain the challenges and key decisions that shaped the Guidelines. Moreover, at the webinar ACER will invite stakeholders to provide feedback on the process of guidelines development to possibly improve the process in future.

Access the public consultation and the responses to the public consultation. 

Access the online webinar.

The EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) has revised and approved the all Transmission System Operators’ (TSOs’) proposal to amend the implementation frameworks for the European balancing platforms for the exchange of balancing energy from automatic and manual frequency restoration reserves (aFRR, mFRR) and for the imbalance netting.

In March 2022, all TSOs proposed an entity to perform the capacity management function for all platforms. This entity shall be a different one from those performing other functions of the respective platforms:

The amendment of the implementation framework of the mFRR platform also includes technical aspects, such as clarifications regarding complex bids and mFRR demand.

What are the benefits?

The implementation frameworks for the European balancing platforms provide the rules for the efficient cross-border exchange of balancing energy from frequency restoration reserves with automatic activation (aFRR) and manual activation (mFRR) and for the imbalance netting. This fosters the liquidity of balancing markets, lowers the cost of balancing energy at European level by using the cheapest resources, and contributes to operational security. 

What are the main elements of ACER’s decision?

ACER amended the TSOs’ proposals to further specify the designation of the entities performing the relevant functions of these platforms. In order to ensure the efficient and effective governance, operation and regulatory oversight of these platforms, ACER introduced several changes on:

• transparency and reporting,
• governance and decision making,
• cooperation framework, and
• operational aspects.

In particular, ACER suggested:

• establishment of a joint steering committee for all three platforms,
• requirements on the annual work program, and
• requirements to ensure proper fall-back and backup mechanisms.

The decision is in line with the objectives of the Electricity Balancing Regulation.

What are the next steps?

Following ACER’s decision, and within 6 months, all TSOs will designate CEPS as the entity to perform the capacity management function for the European balancing platforms for the aFRR, mFRR and the imbalance netting. All TSOs will implement the capacity management function of all three platforms by July 2024.

Access the Decisions 14-2022, 15-2022, 16-2022 and their annexes here.

The EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) has reached a decision on the methodology optimising the inter-TSO settlements related to electricity redispatching and countertrading, in cooperation with all European National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs), ENTSO-E and Transmission System Operators (TSOs).

What is the decision about?

ACER’s decision seeks to ensure the effective and optimal application of inter-TSO cost settlements relevant for all European TSOs. Inter-TSO settlements are an important element of cross-border trading. Optimisation of inter-TSO settlements contributes to reducing costs and improves clarity on the settlement procedure for the benefit of all electricity market stakeholders.

How did ACER contribute?

The proposal for a new methodology was submitted to ACER by ENTSO-E on 1 July 2022, for the 3-months decision-making process.

ACER has carried out assessments and consulted relevant stakeholders to take an informed decision on any needed adjustments related to both the technical part and the financial settlement part of the cost sharing.

On this basis, ACER has amended the initial proposal of the methodology to further improve the clarity and transparency principles of the inter-TSO settlements.

This ACER decision on inter-TSO settlement was reached in cooperation with all energy NRAs, ENTSO-E and the TSOs.

Read more on the ACER’s Decision 13-2022 on the Methodology for the Optimisation of Inter-TSO Settlements related to Redispatching and Countertrading and its Annex here.