ACER-CEER Annual Report on the Results of Monitoring the Internal Electricity and Natural Gas Markets in 2020

The Electricity Volume of the Market Monitoring Report (MMR) provides information on the status of Europe’s electricity wholesale markets in 2020. The MMR covers the European Union (EU) Member States and, for some topics, the United Kingdom, Norway, Switzerland and the Energy Community (EnC) Contracting Parties (CPs).

The Gas Volume of the MMR presents the results of monitoring the status of the European gas markets in 2020 and the progress made towards a fully functioning internal gas market in the light of the existing EU Regulation. This year, the Volume puts further emphasis on tracking the progress towards decarbonising the European gas markets.

The Retail Volume looks back at the developments in Europe’s energy retail markets and customer protection measures during 2020. Notwithstanding this, the unprecedented increase in electricity and gas wholesale prices that have taken place in the second half of 2021 merit a few moments of reflection. It is important to note that while energy prices decreased in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, during 2021 wholesale energy prices have increased significantly as a result of various supply and demand-related factors in Q3 20211 . These wholesale price increases will, result in energy consumers paying higher prices for energy needs and will disproportionately impact the vulnerable and energy poor.