ACER (the energy regulators’ EU agency) and the national (energy) regulatory authorities protect energy markets from abuse, building trust that energy markets work well for businesses and citizens. It is important that wholesale energy markets function well and that prices are determined in a fair way. 

The Regulation on Wholesale Energy Market Integrity and Transparency (REMIT) came into force in 2011 to support open and fair competition in the European wholesale energy markets.

The revised REMIT (which takes effect from 7 May 2024) introduces new measures to better protect the EU citizens and businesses from energy market abuse. How?

• The revised REMIT brings a closer alignment of the EU rules on transparency and integrity of energy markets with those in the financial markets.
• The scope of REMIT is expanded. For example, it now also covers energy (electricity and gas) storage, and the market abuse provisions under REMIT also apply to financial instruments.
• ACER regular surveillance scope is expanded to EU platforms covering electricity balancing markets and more information is provided about algorithmic trading.
• The REMIT reform creates a new setting for investigations and enforcement. ACER has been granted investigatory powers in cross-border cases (involving 2 or more Member States). These powers complement the national regulators’ investigatory powers with ACER and the National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) working closely together.
• Enforcement continues to be at national level. The power to impose fines for infringements of the REMIT prohibitions or the substantive obligations included in the regulation will remain in the hands of the Member States. ACER’s enforcement powers are limited to ACER being able to carry out our investigations or compliance with our requests for information e.g. if a party inhibits our onsite inspection or fails to provide the requested information then ACER can impose a fine. ACER has also been tasked with adopting decisions to approve the authorisations and the withdrawal of authorisations of Inside Information Platforms (IIPs) and Registered Reporting Mechanisms (RRMs).
  • ‘Inside Information Platforms (IPPs)’ are internet-based platforms where market participants can publish inside information. With the revised REMIT it will be mandatory to use IIPs for the disclosure of inside information.
  • ‘Registered Reporting Mechanisms (RRMs)’ are entities that have the authority to submit data and transaction information to ACER on their own behalf (their own data) and/or report data of other market participants (in which case they provide a service). There are about 140 RRMs (see the list of RRMs). Authorisation is only available to RRMs that were founded within the European Union.
  • ACER will also develop and operate a platform serving as a sector-specific electronic access point for inside information that is disclosed, as well as a digital reference centre of information on EU wholesale energy market data.

See the ACER Open letter which addresses questions from stakeholders to help them comply with their reporting obligations under ‘Revised REMIT’.

​Multiple actors cooperate and contribute in ensuring and delivering the transparency and integrity of wholesale energy market under REMIT. These include ACER, national regulatory authorities (NRAs), persons professionally arranging transactions, market participants, or any person observing potential market abuse.

All these actors can notify a potential REMIT breach observed either in the analysis of REMIT data, continuous market monitoring, or in their daily practice.

Anyone can notify suspicious behaviour under REMIT through the Notification Platform.

ACER is legally mandated to collect all relevant trading data in wholesale energy markets, to surveil the European wholesale energy markets, and to coordinate the follow-up of any possible REMIT breach to ensure consistency at European level.

Cycle of REMIT activities (under ACER and NRAs):

• ​​​​​​Define data collection standards
• ​​​Collect REMIT Data 
• ​​​Assess 
• ​​​Detect 
• ​​​Notify 
• Coordinate​
• Investigate 
• ​​​Penalise 
• ​​​Deter​

ACER creates a cross-border investigatory group (Sept 2022)

High prices and high volatility on the wholesale energy markets has led ACER and National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) to reinforce their scrutiny of the behaviour of market participants, including non-EU companies, on the wholesale energy markets to:

• detect market manipulation that may have contributed to the current market situation and manipulative behaviours that may have emerged since the beginning of the energy crisis (due to the high price volatility);
• identify potential situations of inaccurate or misleading information provided to the market and/or insider trading.

In September 2022, ACER and 3 NRAs established a cross-border investigatory group.

Its aim is to coordinate and strengthen the efforts on fact-finding and evidence gathering.

The investigatory group will be closed when sufficient evidence is gathered to pursue a case or if NRAs conclude on the absence of a REMIT breach.

​ACER supports and actively contributes to the decarbonisation of the European gas sector. By ensuring efficient decarbonisation and competition measures, costs can be limited and consumers can benefit from lower prices. This is possible thanks to the work of national regulators, the European Commission, ACER and stakeholders who have been cooperating for more than ten years to integrate and create a pan European gas market, comprising also the Energy Community Contracting Parties.

What is the role of ACER?

Building upon the sustained efforts of National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) and the continuous support of all stakeholders, ACER's Gas Department is working towards meeting all the challenges associated with creating a well-functioning, competitive, integrated, secure and sustainable European gas market, delivering tangible benefits to the European consumers. Work still to be done includes aligning national market and network operation rules for gas as well as making cross-border investment in energy infrastructure easier.

To achieve these goals, ACER Gas Department has organised its activities in three teams:

• Network Codes

• Market Monitoring

• Infrastructure

Network Codes

​The Network Codes (NCs) are the fundamental rules regulating the efficient transmission of gas across Europe. They turn regulatory policies for cross-border and market integration issues into operational rules. ACER is responsible for drafting the initial framework guidelines that guide the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG) and the European Commission in drafting and approving the Codes. The team is also responsible for issuing decisions, recommendations, opinions and NC implementation reports.

Gas Network Codes Functionality Platform

The Joint Functionality Process for Gas Network Codes was jointly set up by ACER and ENTSOG in 2016. The platform allows market parties to notify operational issues related to the gas Network Codes and their implementation.

The gas infrastructure team deals with various aspects of the development and the efficient, safe and secure operation of the gas industry infrastructure: pipelines, compressor stations, liquefied natural gas terminals and underground gas storage. ACER contributes to assessing how gas infrastructure developments may influence market integrity, competition, security of gas supply and sustainability. To do so, ACER works closely with NRAs, ENTSOG, project promoters, and the European Commission. The team also often liaises with colleagues from the Energy Community and other European entities.

The Agency closely monitors and assesses the development of the gas infrastructure in Europe through several activities, including the development and the implementation of the EU-wide 10-year network development plans (TYNDPs), gas regional investment plans (GRIPs), national infrastructure development plans (NDPs), and the selection of projects of common interest (PCIs). In all these domains, ACER provides Opinions, Recommendations or reports to advise and inform relevant stakeholders.

​Accurate monitoring is crucial to track the progress towards meeting the challenges of creating a well-functioning, competitive, integrated, secure, and sustainable European internal energy market. The Gas Market Monitoring team analyses the trends of:

• EU gas wholesale markets and the impact of Network Codes on its functioning,

• Retail energy markets, focusing particularly on price-related issues, as well as the status of consumer rights, empowerment and protection in the European energy market.

As a result of this intensive analysis, ACER produces an annual Market Monitoring Report​ (MMR). The report is considered by stakeholders as a reference to appraise the status of the European energy markets and to develop a sound energy policy. The MMR also identifies barriers to the completion of the internal gas market and recommends measures to overcome them.

​​​​​​The European energy sector is engaged into a profound energy transition, whose overall success highly depends on the efficiency and integration of the European electricity markets.

Since the Directive on common rules for the internal market in electricity (1996), which marked the beginning of the market integration process at the European level, significant progress has been made towards establishing an efficient Internal Electricity Market. The successive legislative packages (and more recently the Clean Energy Package) contributed to further strengthening the foundations of the Internal Electricity Market.  ​

Despite this progress, there are still numerous obstacles to overcome before achieving a truly integrated efficient market. 

Among these: the full implementation of the Network Codes and Guidelines developed since 2011 (constituting the backbone of the Internal Electricity Market) and the efficient and secure integration of renewables' intermittent generation.

Building upon the sustained efforts of National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) and the continuous support of all stakeholders, ACER's Electricity Department is committed to meeting all these challenges. ​

To better support the market integration process, the Department has organised its activities into five teams:

• The Market Codes team is responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring the European market rules.

• The Grid Connection and System Operations team develops, implements and monitors the grid connection and system operation rules harmonised at European level.

• The Market Monitoring team is in charge of identifying the barriers to the well-functioning of the European electricity markets.

• The Infrastructure team ensures an efficient and transparent network development.

• The Adequacy team is responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of sound and transparent methodologies identifying resource gaps in Europe.​​

ACER is looking for talented and committed candidates who are willing to make a difference for Europe. 

​Is this you?​​​​​

We are convinced that diversity is a strength in the workplace and that its harnessing will improve our productive environment, where everyone feels valued, where talents are being fully empowered, and organisational goals are met.

The Agency is fully committed to the provision of equality of opportunity for all its employees through its employment practices, policies and procedures. ACER provides a working environment that is sensible to differences in racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, sexual orientation and gender. The Agency’s way of working is based on a model of best practice whereby all employees can reach their full potential.

Work opportunities at ACER are open to nationals of the 27 European Union Member States.

Currently the Agency employs staff from 21 different nationalities: candidates from Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta and Sweden are particularly encouraged to apply!

Are you a market data enthusiast with a passion for uncovering impactful market trends?

ACER invites you to join our dynamic team as a Policy Officer – Market Data Analytics. In this role, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the energy markets by providing insightful market data analysis, ensuring the highest standards of data quality, and enhancing ACER's analytical capabilities.

We seek a driven individual to join us in shaping the future of energy market regulation.

If you're ready to leverage your skills in a collaborative and innovative environment, apply now to be a part of our team!

Deadline for Applications: 15 July 2024 (14:00h Ljubljana time)

Reference: ACER/2024/08

Published: 10/06/2024

The Agency may offer positions to experienced and highly-motivated Seconded National Experts (SNE), who will work together with the Agency’s staff.

No deadline for applications

Reference: ACER/SNE/2023/OC

Are you a strongly motivated, highly qualified and competent young professional? If your answer is yes, you landed in the right place.

ACER traineeship programme aims to attract university graduates who are interested in developing professionally by embarking on an exciting learning opportunity.

No deadline to apply.

You can be contacted at any time to join us for March or September semester.

Reference: ​ ACER/TRAINEE/2024/OC

The ACER graduate programme aims to attract graduates with a completed Master Degree and PhD students who are interested in developing professionally by embarking on an exciting learning opportunity in EU energy regulation in its offices in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

The aim is to create a pool of fresh talent capable of contributing to core ACER tasks and policy and creating a bridge with the latest academic insights.

No deadline to apply.

Reference: ​ ACER/GRADUATE/2023/OC

The European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) was established in March 2011 (Third Energy Package legislation) to foster cooperation among the EU’s energy National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) and help ensure that a single Eu​​ropean market for electricity, and similarly natural gas​, functions well. ACER's headquarters are in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

ACER is one of the EU decentralised agencies. Distinct from the EU institutions, agencies are set up as separate legal entities to perform specific technical and scientific tasks that help the EU institutions and Member States to implement policies and take decisions. EU agencies support the cooperation between the EU and national governments by pooling technical and specialist expertise. Besides working with a wide range of energy stakeholders, the EU institutions and policy makers, ACER works closely with other European agencies through the EU Agencies Network (EUAN). See the EUAN work programme 2023-2024.

ACER’s role includes:

• Supporting the integration of energy markets in the EU (by common rules at EU level).
• Contributing to efficient trans-European energy infrastructure, ensuring alignment with EU priorities.
• Monitoring energy markets so that they function well, deterring wholesale energy market manipulation and abusive behaviour.
• Where necessary, coordinating cross-national regulatory action.

​Our overall purpose is achieving a transition of the European energy system in line with the political objectives set, reaping benefits of increased energy market integration across Europe, and securing low-carbon supply at least possible cost for European businesses and citizens.

The Agency promotes:

• a more competitive, integrated market, offering consumers more choice
• an efficient energy infrastructure and networks, enabling energy to move freely across borders, the integration of renewable sources, and therefore ensuring a higher degree of security of supply
• a monitored and transparent energy market guaranteeing consumers fair prices and a limitation of market abusive behaviours

Watch the video & discover what ACER does for you.