This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Natural gas transmission networks
Natural gas transmission networks
Natural gas transmission networks
Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 on conditions for access to the natural gas transmission networks
It lays down rules for access to:
These rules aim to counteract barriers to competition in the European Union’s (EU) market for natural gas and to ensure its smooth operation.
The regulation determines:
Certification of transmission system operators
National regulatory authorities must notify the European Commission of decisions relating to certifying a TSO. The Commission has 2 months to deliver its opinion to the authority, which then adopts the final decision concerning the TSO’s certification. This decision and the Commission’s opinion are both published.
Certification of storage system operators
Amending Regulation (EU) 2022/1032 requires EU Member States’ authorities to certify all underground gas storage site operators. This aims to avoid the potential risks of external influence on critical storage infrastructures, which could jeopardise the security of the EU’s energy supply and other essential security interests. Any operator not obtaining this certification will have to give up ownership or control of gas storage facilities within the EU.
Creation of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas
The gas TSOs had to submit, to the Commission and to the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), the draft statutes for the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG), a list of members and draft rules of procedure by 3 March 2011.
Network codes
The Commission must consult ACER and ENTSOG in order to establish an annual list of the priorities for developing sets of rules known as network codes. These codes are developed using a non-binding guideline submitted to the Commission by ACER. The codes relate in particular to:
ENTSOG’s tasks
ENTSOG is responsible for adopting:
Costs and tariffs
The regulatory authorities determine tariffs or methodologies for their calculation. Member States may take decisions relating to tariffs such as fixing auction arrangements.
Third-party access services
Congestion management
It has applied since 3 March 2011. It repealed Regulation (EC) No 1775/2005 from 3 March 2011.
For further information, see:
Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 on conditions for access to the natural gas transmission networks and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1775/2005 (OJ L 211, 14.8.2009, pp. 36–54).
Successive amendments to Implementing Regulation (EC) No 715/2009) have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
Regulation (EU) 2022/1032 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 June 2022 amending Regulations (EU) 2017/1938 and (EC) No 715/2009 with regard to gas storage (OJ L 173, 30.6.2022, pp. 17–33).
Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/459 of 16 March 2017 establishing a network code on capacity allocation mechanisms in gas transmission systems and repealing Regulation (EU) No 984/2013 (OJ L 72, 17.3.2017, pp. 1–28).
Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/460 of 16 March 2017 establishing a network code on harmonised transmission tariff structures for gas (OJ L 72, 17.3.2017, pp. 29–56).
Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/703 of 30 April 2015 establishing a network code on interoperability and data exchange rules (OJ L 113, 1.5.2015, pp. 13–26).
Commission Regulation (EU) No 312/2014 of 26 March 2014 establishing a Network Code on Gas Balancing of Transmission Networks (OJ L 91, 27.3.2014, pp. 15–35).
last update 31.10.2022