The EU Agency for Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER) have published their views and recommendations on the European Commission's legislative proposals on Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Markets.

The energy regulators appreciate the ambition of the proposals to establish a comprehensive system design with a clear target model for the hydrogen and decarbonised gas market(s), to reinforce measures on integrated network development and focus on consumer protection issues.

They also see scope to enhance certain elements of the proposals, with a focus on:

• comprehensive system design;

• integrated network development; and

• inclusive consumer protection.

Read the ACER-CEER Reaction.

On 1st June 2022, the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) has been asked by the European Commission to submit non-binding framework guidelines setting out clear and objective principles for the development of a network code on demand response. The framework guidelines will ensure coherency with the existing regulatory framework by identifying relevant provisions in the existing network codes and guidelines.

The network code will aim at enabling market access for demand response, including load, storage and distributed generation (aggregated or not), as well at facilitating the market based procurement of services by distribution and transmission system operators. It will be applicable to all Member States.

Why is it relevant?

Demand response is key to integrate the growing share of renewable energy and new electricity loads (e.g. resulting from heat pumps and electric vehicles) in a cost-efficient way.

A future European framework must ensure that no undue regulatory barriers hamper their participation in any of the existing wholesale electricity markets.

In developing these framework guidelines, ACER is contributing to a more cost-efficient energy transition by facilitating market access for smaller actors, including consumers.

What are the next steps?

To inform its decision-making process, ACER opens a public consultation from 2 June to 2 August 2022 and invites interested stakeholders to submit their inputs.

To learn more about the draft framework guidelines, join ACER’s public workshop on 28 June, 9:30-11:30.

ACER will submit the framework guidelines to the European Commission by December 2022.

Read more on the Public Consultation and register to the Public Workshop!

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The EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER) announce a public consultation to collect inputs on their draft policy paper on how to address key challenges in the EU electricity forward market.

In this consultation paper, ACER and CEER have identified the main problems experienced in the EU’s electricity forward market, as well as possible solutions for policy makers. The paper includes a qualitative analysis and proposes some preliminary conclusions on the preferred policy options.

Among several other elements, stakeholders are invited to share their views on the:

• problems identified (e.g. low liquidity, inadequate maturities, barrier to reconfiguration of bidding zones)

• set of possible policy options and solutions to the challenges

• the analysis and preliminary conclusions.

Target audience: Market participants interested to hedge (producers, consumers, traders).

The public consultation runs from Wednesday 1 June until Friday 29 July 2022.

ACER and CEER will also hold a public workshop on Wednesday 6 July 2022, from 9.00 to 12.00 CET, to present the consultation paper and gather first reflections from stakeholders.

What are the next steps?

ACER and CEER will further analyse and evaluate the policy options, taking into consideration the outcome of the consultation. As a next step, ACER and CEER may recommend amendments on the legal framework to accommodate one or several policy options.

Read more on the Public Consultation and share your inputs!

Register to the ACER-CEER event.

On 17 May 2022, the National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) of the Continental Europe Synchronous Area requested the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) an extension of six months to decide on the Transmission System Operators’ (TSOs') proposal on the minimum activation period to be ensured by Frequency Containment Reserve (FCR) providers.

What does frequency containment reserve (FCR) mean?

FCRs (also known as primary control reserves) help maintain the power balance across the EU electricity grid. FCRs are one of the balancing services to level out frequency deviations in the power grid. The FCR is the first response to frequency disturbances (e.g. following a planned/unplanned power plant outage). The minimum activation period must be ensured by the FCR providers. If the frequency deviation persists, the Frequency Restoration Reserves (FRR) subsequently replace the primary control reserve.

What are the next steps?

ACER intends to decide promptly on this request.

Access the Public Notice.