The EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) has initiated the procedure to adopt new framework guidelines on scenarios regulating future network development planning, in accordance with the recast TEN-E regulation.

What is it about?

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 ten-year network development plans (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.

As such, enhanced scrutiny on the  process of developing scenarios leads to increased trust from stakeholders and citizens.   

What is the role of ACER?

The recasted TEN-E regulation stipulates a more structured process for developing the joint TYNDP scenarios. It requires from ACER to prepare Framework Guidelines which should ensure the TYNDP scenarios are transparent, non-discriminatory and robust, as well as in line with the Union’s climate and energy objectives (e.g. fostering Union’s 2030 energy and climate targets, as well as its 2050 climate neutrality objective). These scenarios should also build on the European Commission’s Fit for 55’ scenarios, as well as on the national energy and climate plans.

The ENTSO-E and ENTSOG shall follow the Agency’s framework guidelines when they construct the joint TYNDP scenarios.

What’s the way forward?

In order to inform its decision-making process in an inclusive and extensive manner, ACER will collect views from interested stakeholders.

Starting from July 2022, and on a regular basis, ACER will organise a series of technical workshops, involving the ENTSOs, stakeholders and scenarios’ experts.

In order to be invited to the technical workshops, stakeholders should raise their interest and share their initial views by writing at scenario.guidelines(at)acer.europa.eu by 25 July 2022.

A broader public consultation was held from 6 October until 14 November 2022; see the responses to the public consultation.

The new framework guidelines will be adopted in January 2023.

For more procedural information, access the Public Notice.

ACER will organise a webinar on 26 January 2023 to explain the Framework Guidelines.

Access the webinar.

Access more information on the ENTSOs’ most recent completed scenario development process.

Privacy Statement.

On 1 July 2022, the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) submitted to the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) the proposal for a new methodology optimising the inter-transmission system operators (TSOs) settlements related to redispatching and countertrading.

The proposal was issued by all TSOs, in accordance with the Electricity Regulation.

In particular, the Electricity Regulation provides for the establishment of Regional Coordination Centres (RCCs) and mandates RCCs to support TSOs in their request for optimising the inter-TSO settlements, including administering the financial flows (related to redispatching and countertrading) between TSOs.

What are the benefits?

Common processing and optimisation of inter-TSO settlements contributes to reduce costs and improves clarity on the settlement procedure, for the benefit of stakeholders.

What are the next steps?

According to the Electricity Regulation (Article 37(5)), ACER shall reach a decision within three months from the receipt of the proposal.

ACER has initiated the procedure, and will reach a decision by 1 October 2022.

ACER invites interested stakeholders to submit their views by 10 August 2022 to the email: ACER-ELE-2022-013(at)acer.europa.eu.

Inter TSO settlement_Methodology proposal

Inter TSO settlement_Explanatory note

On 23 June 2022, CNMC adopted a sanction decision imposing fines of:

• €6 million on GASELA GMBH (GASELA)

• €6 million on SOLSTAR Limited (SOLSTAR)

for manipulating the Spanish wholesale gas market in breach of Article 5 of the Regulation on Wholesale Energy Market Integrity and Transparency (REMIT).

CNMC found that, especially between 15 and 21 April 2019, GASELA and SOLSTAR carried out pre-arranged transactions on the Spanish wholesale gas market (MIBGAS) aimed at keeping prices at an artificially higher level than what would have resulted from the oversupply caused by GASELA during Easter week (which is typically characterised by lower demand and liquidity).

GASELA and SOLSTAR issued pre-arranged orders and performed transactions in the within-day, daily, and weekend gas products to keep prices high. They also colluded to prevent other market participants from benefiting from the abnormally high prices.

Hence, according to CNMC, their actions breached Article 5 of REMIT by:

• sending misleading signals on the supply, demand, and price of the gas wholesale products and

• setting the prices of such gas wholesale products at an artificial level.

Access CNMC’s decisions (in Spanish).

The decision can be subject to an appeal.

ACER Guidance

ACER provides guidance to National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) on implementation of the REMIT regulation.

In 2021, ACER updated its Guidance on REMIT (6th Edition) to anticipate upcoming NRA decisions on market manipulation such as sending false/misleading signals and setting prices at an artificial level, including new examples on collusive behaviours between market participants and on pre-arranged trades.

ACER welcomes CNMC’s decision under REMIT.