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Document 52022PC0651

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the EU-UK Specialised Committee on Energy established by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, concerning the EU-UK electricity trading arrangements

COM/2022/651 final

Brussels, 24.11.2022

COM(2022) 651 final

2022/0388(NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the EU-UK Specialised Committee on Energy established by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, concerning the EU-UK electricity trading arrangements


EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.Subject matter of the proposal

This proposal concerns the decision establishing the position to be taken on the Union's behalf in the EU-UK Specialised Committee on Energy (hereafter ‘Specialised Committee’) set up under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part (the ‘Trade and Cooperation Agreement’) in connection with the envisaged adoption of a Recommendation to each Party concerning their requests to transmission system operators (the ‘TSOs’) for electricity in view of preparing technical procedures for the efficient use of electricity interconnectors.

2.Context of the proposal

2.1.The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement aims to establish cooperation between the EU and the UK inter alia in the area of energy. The Energy Title VIII of Heading One of Part Two (Trade, Transport, Fisheries and other Arrangements) includes commitments on trading over the electricity interconnectors. In particular, the Energy Title and Annex 29 to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement include provisions which aim at developing a new procedure for the allocation of capacity on electricity interconnectors at the day-ahead market timeframe. This new procedure is to be based on the model of ‘multi-region loose volume coupling’, within a specific timeframe. In addition, the Trade and Cooperation Agreement commits each Party to ensure the maximum level of capacity of electricity interconnectors is made available, while respecting the need to ensure secure system operation and most efficient use of systems.

The rules of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement have been in force since 1 January 2021.

2.2.The EU-UK Specialised Committee on Energy 

The EU-UK Specialised Committee on Energy (the ‘Committee’), established by Article 8(1), point (l) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, addresses matters covered by Title VIII on Energy 1 of Heading One of Part Two (Trade, Transport, Fisheries and other Arrangements).

As provided by Article 8(4), points (a) and (c) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the Committee has the power to monitor and review the implementation and ensure the proper functioning of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement in its area of competence. It has the power to adopt decisions, including any amendments, and recommendations in respect of all matters where the Trade and Cooperation Agreement so provides or for which the Partnership Council has delegated its powers to that Committee pursuant to Article 7(4), point (f) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. This power is further specified in Title VIII on Energy of Heading One of Part Two of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which provide that this specific Specialised Committee is, inter alia, tasked to provide recommendations, including on issues such as trading arrangements for the efficient use of interconnectors pursuant to Articles 311 to 313, Article 317 and Annex 29 to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

Article 8(7) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides that Specialised Committees (including the one on Energy) are co-chaired by a representative of the Union and a representative of the United Kingdom. As provided for in Article 10(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the decisions and recommendations of a Committee are taken by mutual consent of the Parties.

2.3.The envisaged act of the Committee

The Committee is to adopt a Recommendation to the Parties regarding the development of the electricity trading arrangements as provided for under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (‘the envisaged act’).

The Recommendation of the Committee addresses the Parties on two specific issues. First, it is to confirm, as its Recommendation to the Parties, the preliminary recommendation provided on 22 January 2021 by the Directorate-General for Energy and the UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to the EU and UK TSOs for electricity. That preliminary recommendation was issued prior to the commencement of work by the Committee and invited the TSOs to start preparing technical procedures for the efficient use of electricity interconnectors. Second, the Recommendation, while recognising the work already undertaken by the TSOs, sets out a request for additional information to be provided by TSOs. This additional information will assist the Committee in discharging its obligations under Article 312(1) and Article 317(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, in particular it will help deciding on the manner in which the electricity trading arrangements could be developed in the most optimal way.

The Committee should adopt the envisaged act as soon as possible, either at its next meeting or by means of a written procedure set out in Annex I to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, whichever is sooner.

3.Position to be taken on the Union's behalf

3.1.1.Recommendation confirming the preliminary recommendation provided by the Parties to TSOs to start preparing technical procedures on efficient use of electricity interconnectors

On 22 January 2021, the Directorate-General for Energy of the European Commission and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of the UK Government provided a preliminary recommendation to their respective TSOs requesting them to start preparing technical procedures for the efficient use of electricity interconnectors. It was provided right after the Trade and Cooperation Agreement started to be provisionally applied by the Union and in advance of the commencement of work by the Committee. The preliminary recommendation enabled the TSOs in particular to immediately start preparing technical procedures for efficient use of electricity interconnectors at the day ahead stage.

That preliminary recommendation also provided the basis for the work of TSOs on other aspects of efficient use of electricity interconnectors, set out in Article 311(1) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, such as capacity calculation, congestion management or enhancing efficiency of trade over electricity interconnectors at other timeframes than day ahead, as and when appropriate. It therefore continues to be useful as a point of reference and guidance for further work of the TSOs although the priority work is clearly given to electricity trading at the day ahead timeframe.

Given that the Committee started operating in the course of 2021, it is now appropriate that it confirms the validity of that preliminary recommendation for further work of TSOs.

The position to be taken on behalf of the Union in the Committee is therefore proposed to be to support the adoption by the Committee, pursuant to Article 311(1) and (2), Article 312(1) and 317(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, of a Recommendation to each Party that confirms as its Recommendation to the Parties the preliminary recommendation that the Parties provided to the TSOs on 22 January 2021, requesting to start preparing technical procedures for the efficient use of electricity interconnectors.

3.1.2.Recommendation to the Parties concerning a request to the TSOs for additional information regarding the cost-benefit analysis and the outline proposals of technical procedures

According to Article 312(1) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the Committee, as a matter of priority, shall take the necessary steps to ensure that TSOs for electricity develop arrangements setting out technical procedures for capacity allocation and congestion management at the day ahead timeframe within a specific timeline set out in Part 2 of Annex 29 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Pursuant to Article 317(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the Committee may recommend that each Party requests its transmission system operators to prepare the technical procedures for the efficient use of electricity interconnectors.

Based on the preliminary recommendation issued by the Directorate-General for Energy of the European Commission and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of the UK Government on 22 January 2021, the TSOs of the Union and of the UK performed a cost-benefit analysis and prepared outline proposals as a first step in developing the technical procedures for the electricity trading arrangements between the Union and the UK.

The analysis, delivered on 26 April 2021 to the Commission, concluded that it is, in theory, possible to develop arrangements that would meet the conditions for multi-region loose volume coupling as set out in Annex 29 to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (so-called ‘preliminary order book’ solution 2 ). However, the EU and UK TSOs also concluded that this solution would not be desirable, as it would give rise to serious risks of market manipulation and market disruptions. ACER clearly confirmed these concerns in its opinion, shared with the Commission on 7 May 2021.

EU and UK TSOs analysed another solution for developing the electricity trading arrangements, the so-called ‘common order book’ solution. 3 It would, however, require a change of Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1222 establishing a guideline on capacity allocation and congestion management (the ‘CACM-Regulation’). 4 This suggested solution is based on the hypothesis that the current timeframe of procedural steps within the Single Day Ahead Market Coupling, as set out in the CACM-Regulation, could be changed in order to accommodate the trading parameters and processes of the UK.

In the assessment of TSOs, supported by the opinion of ACER, the common order book solution would also require, in addition to developing technical procedures and changes to the CACM-Regulation, a complex additional technical analysis of its feasibility and long implementation time going significantly beyond the original timeline set out in Annex 29 to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, during which this solution would have to be tested and verified.

In light of these findings, discussed at the Committee meeting of 30 March 2022, the Commission and the UK Government consider it necessary to request the TSOs to analyse these results further and in greater detail. The Commission and the UK Government considered that a number of additional questions would need to be answered by the TSOs with regard to each option studied, before the Committee can recommend to the Parties the appropriate option for which the technical procedures should be developed at the day ahead timeframe. The Commission and the UK also noted that the timeline set out in Annex 29 to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement has not been met. However, the Committee should nevertheless discharge its obligations under Article 312(1) and Article 317(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

The position to be taken on behalf of the Union in the Committee is therefore proposed to be to support the adoption by the Committee, pursuant to Article 312(1), Article 317(2) and Annex 29 to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement of a Recommendation to each Party to request its respective TSOs for electricity to provide the additional information, based on a list of questions that will be attached to the Recommendation, within 5 months of the date of the request made by each Party.

4.Legal basis

4.1.Procedural legal basis

4.1.1.Principles

Article 218(9) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) establishes that ‘The Council, on a proposal from the Commission or the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, shall adopt a decision suspending application of an agreement and establishing the positions to be adopted on the Union’s behalf in a body set up by an agreement, when that body is called upon to adopt acts having legal effects, with the exception of acts supplementing or amending the institutional framework of the agreement.’ (emphasis added)

The concept of ‘acts having legal effects’ includes instruments that, although not having binding effect under international law, are ‘capable of decisively influencing the content of the legislation adopted by the EU legislature 5 .

4.1.2.Application to the present case

The EU-UK Specialised Committee on Energy is a body established by the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

The act which the Committee is called upon to adopt constitutes an act likely to have legal effects. It contributes to discharging the obligations agreed upon by the Parties in Article 312(1) and Article 317(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Since the Committee Recommendation conditions and frames the development of electricity trading arrangements between the EU and the UK, it is capable of decisively influencing the content of or the way in which the Union acquis is to be implemented, in particular Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1222 establishing a guideline on capacity allocation and congestion management. 6

The envisaged act does not supplement or amend the institutional framework of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

Therefore, the procedural legal basis for the proposed decision is Article 218(9) TFEU.

4.2.Substantive legal basis

4.2.1.Principles

The substantive legal basis for a decision under Article 218(9) TFEU depends primarily on the objective and content of the envisaged act in respect of which a position is taken on the Union's behalf. If the envisaged act pursues two aims or has two components and if one of those aims or components is identifiable as the main one, whereas the other is merely incidental, the decision under Article 218(9) TFEU must be founded on a single substantive legal basis, namely that required by the main or predominant aim or component.

4.2.2.Application to the present case

The main objective and content of the envisaged act relate to the area of energy. Therefore, the substantive legal basis of the proposed decision is Article 194(1) TFEU.

4.3.Conclusion

The legal basis of the proposed decision should be Article 194(1) TFEU, in conjunction with Article 218(9) TFEU.

2022/0388 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL DECISION

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the EU-UK Specialised Committee on Energy established by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, concerning the EU-UK electricity trading arrangements

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 194(1), in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1)On 29 April 2021, the Council adopted Decision (EU) 2021/689 7  on the conclusion of Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part 8  (the Trade and Cooperation Agreement’). The Agreement has been applied provisionally as of 1 January 2021 and entered into force on 1 May 2021. 

(2)Pursuant to Article 8(4), point (c), of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the Specialised Committee on Energy (the ‘Committee’) may adopt decisions and recommendations in respect of all matters where the Trade and Cooperation Agreement or any supplementing Agreement so provides or for which the Partnership Council has delegated powers to it, on issues related to its area of competence. Pursuant to Article 10(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, a Committee is to adopt decisions and make recommendations by mutual consent.

(3)Article 311(1) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement requires each Party to ensure that capacity allocation and congestion management on electricity interconnectors is market based, transparent and non-discriminatory. The Parties should address, among others and as appropriate, capacity calculation, congestion management and trading arrangements for all relevant timeframes, including the day ahead timeframe. Pursuant to Article 311(1), point (f), in conjunction with Article 311(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, each Party is to ensure that capacity allocation and congestion management across electricity interconnectors is coordinated between the Union and UK transmission system operators (the TSOs’) for all relevant timeframes while such coordination is not to involve or imply participation of the latter in relevant Union procedures.

(4)Article 312(1) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement requires that for capacity allocation and congestion management at the day ahead stage, the Committee take, as a matter of priority, the necessary steps in accordance with Article 317 to ensure that TSOs for electricity develop arrangements setting out technical procedures for the day ahead timeframe.

(5)On 22 January 2021, the Directorate-General for Energy of the European Commission and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of the UK Government provided a preliminary recommendation to the TSOs, in advance of the commencement of work by the Committee. Concerning capacity calculation and allocation for the day-ahead timeframe the preliminary recommendation invited TSOs to prepare a day-ahead target model based on the concept of “multi-region loose volume coupling” in accordance with Article 312(1), Article 317(2) and (3) and Annex 29 to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Concerning capacity calculation and allocation for timeframes other than the day ahead timeframe, the preliminary recommendation invited the TSOs of the Parties to jointly prepare a proposal for a timeline for developing the draft technical procedures.

(6)Given that the Committee started its operations in the course of 2021, it is appropriate, pursuant to Article 317(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, that it now confirms the preliminary recommendation issued on 22 January 2021 as its Recommendation to the Parties, as provided by the Parties to the TSOs, requesting them to start preparing technical procedures for the efficient use of electricity interconnectors. The preliminary recommendation, once confirmed as Recommendation of the Committee, should continue to frame any further work of the TSOs in this regard.  

(7)Based on the preliminary recommendation of 22 January 2021, the TSOs of both Parties submitted to the Commission a cost-benefit analysis of the options for the development of the multi-region loose volume coupling as set out in Annex 29 to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and an outline of the corresponding technical procedures. On 7 May 2021, the Agency for Cooperation of Energy Regulators submitted to the Commission its informal opinion on this analysis.

(8)The Commission considered the result of the cost-benefit analysis and the opinion of the Agency for Cooperation of Energy Regulators against the requirements of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and informed the Council of its preliminary views. It concluded that the results obtained by the TSOs need to be refined and further information is needed on all options analysed by them. The UK agreed with this conclusion at the meeting of the Committee on 30 March 2022.

(9)It is therefore appropriate to support the adoption by the Committee of a Recommendation to the Parties concerning their request to the TSOs for additional information supplementing the cost-benefit analysis and the outline proposals for technical procedures in order to assist the Committee in discharging its obligations under Article 312(1) and Article 317(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. It is appropriate that the Union requests its TSOs to provide such further information within 5 months of the date of request.

(10)The Committee is to adopt the Recommendation to each Party concerning their requests to TSOs for electricity in view of preparing technical procedures for the efficient use of electricity interconnectors as soon as possible. The Committee is to adopt the Recommendation either during its next meeting, or by written procedure, whichever is sooner, following the completion of domestic procedures by each Party.

(11)It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union's behalf in the Committee, as the Recommendation will be capable of decisively influencing the content of or the way in which the Union acquis is to be implemented, in particular Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1222. 9

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The position to be taken on the Union's behalf in the Specialised Committee on Energy shall be based on the draft act of that Committee attached to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Commission.

Done at Brussels,

   For the Council

   The President

(1)    With the exception of Chapter 4 and Article 323 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, and of Annex 27 to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
(2)    Preliminary order book solution is a solution where, in order to minimise the impact on SDAC, the multi-region loose volume coupling will start earlier, using whatever order books have been received by e.g. 11:45 in the bordering bidding zones (and final order books from Great Britain). Market participants in EU bordering bidding zones are free to submit new orders or amend orders already submitted up until SDAC gate closure at 12:00 CET. GB gate closure would be at 11.45 CET. This implies no delay or change to SDAC process.
(3)    Common order book solution is a solution where the multi-region loose volume coupling starts at 12:00 which is the current gate closure time of the single day ahead market coupling (hereafter ‘SDAC’). This means that order books of market participants in Great Britain and in SDAC bordering bidding zones are complete and these are used in multi-region loose volume coupling. This means that the common order book solution would impact the current SDAC process.
(4)    Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1222 of 24 July 2015 establishing a guideline on capacity allocation and congestion management (OJ L 197, 25.7.2015, p. 24).
(5)    Judgment of the Court of Justice of 7 October 2014, Germany v Council, C-399/12, ECLI:EU:C:2014:2258, paragraphs 61 to 64.
(6)    Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1222 of 24 July 2015 establishing a guideline on capacity allocation and congestion management (OJ L 197, 25.7.2015, p. 24).
(7)    Council Decision (EU) 2021/689 of 29 April 2021 on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, and of the Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning security procedures for exchanging and protecting classified information (OJ L 149, 30.4.2021, p.2).
(8)    OJ L 149, 30.4.2021, p. 10.
(9)    Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1222 of 24 July 2015 establishing a guideline on capacity allocation and congestion management (OJ L 197, 25.7.2015, p. 24).
Top

Brussels, 24.11.2022

COM(2022) 651 final

ANNEX

to the

proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the EU-UK Specialised Committee on Energy established by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, concerning the EU-UK electricity trading arrangements


ANNEX

Recommendation No. x/202x

of the EU-UK Specialised Committee
established by Article 8(1)(l) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part

of [date]

to each Party concerning their requests to transmission system operators for electricity in view of preparing technical procedures for the efficient use of electricity interconnectors

The Specialised Committee,

Having regard to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of the other part (the ‘Trade and Cooperation Agreement’), and in particular Article 311(1) and (2), Article 312(1), Article 317 (2) and (3) and Annex 29 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)Pursuant to Article 8(4), point (a) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the Specialised Committee (the Committee) has the power to monitor and review the implementation and ensure the proper functioning of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement in its area of competence. Pursuant to Article 8(4) point (c), it has the power to adopt decisions and recommendations in respect of all matters where the Trade and Cooperation Agreement so provides or for which the Partnership Council has delegated its powers to that Committee pursuant to Article 7(4), point (f). Pursuant to Article 329(3) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, it shall make recommendations as necessary to ensure the effective implementation of the Chapters for which it is responsible.

(2)With the aim of ensuring the efficient use of electricity interconnectors and reducing barriers to trade between the Parties, Article 311(1) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement sets commitments inter alia with regard to capacity allocation, congestion management and capacity calculation for electricity interconnectors, as well as the development of arrangements to deliver robust and efficient outcomes for all relevant timeframes.

(3)On 22 January 2021, the Directorate-General for Energy of the European Commission and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of the United Kingdom Government each issued a preliminary recommendation to their respective transmission system operators for electricity (‘TSOs’) requesting them to jointly start preparing technical procedures for the efficient use of electricity interconnectors in advance of the commencement of work by the Committee. Given that the Committee started its operations in the course of 2021, this preliminary recommendation needs to be confirmed by this Committee as a Recommendation to the Parties, as provided by the Parties to the TSOs.

(4)Concerning capacity calculation and allocation for the day-ahead timeframe the preliminary recommendation requested TSOs to prepare a day-ahead target model based on the concept of “Multi-region loose volume coupling” in accordance with Articles 312(1), 317(2) and (3) and Annex 29 to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

(5)As regards capacity calculation and allocation for timeframes other than the day ahead timeframe the preliminary recommendation invited the TSOs of the Parties to jointly prepare a proposal for a timeline for developing the draft technical procedures. It continues to be useful as a point of reference and guidance for further work on these matters while the priority is given to electricity trading at the day ahead timeframe.

(6)While the timeline set out in Annex 29 as referred to in the preliminary recommendation has not been met, the Committee should nevertheless discharge its obligations under Articles 312(1) and 317(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. 

(7)The TSOs and regulatory authorities of the Parties have already undertaken work with reference to the preliminary recommendation. In the light of progress achieved to date by the TSOs, further information is required regarding the cost-benefit analysis and the outline proposals of technical procedures in order for the Committee to be able to discharge its obligations under Article 312(1) and Article 317(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

(8)Each Party therefore should request its TSOs to provide this further information.

HAS ADOPTED THIS RECOMMENDATION,

Article 1

The preliminary recommendation issued on 22 January 2021 by the Directorate-General for Energy of the European Commission and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of the United Kingdom Government to, respectively, TSOs for electricity of the EU and of the United Kingdom requesting them to start preparing technical procedures on the efficient use of electricity interconnectors, as set out in Annex I to this Recommendation, is hereby confirmed as a Recommendation of the Committee to the Parties, as provided by the Parties to the TSOs .

Article 2

The Committee recommends that each Party requests its respective TSOs for electricity to provide the additional information as set out in Annex II to this Recommendation within 5 months of the date of request made by each Party.

 

Done at Brussels and London, [date]

For the Specialised Committee

F. ERMACORA    P. KOVACS            M. SKRINAR

The co-Chairs



ADDENDUM TO ANNEX

Annex I to Recommendation No. x/202x

Preliminary recommendations of the Directorate-General for Energy of the European Commission and of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of the United Kingdom Government to, respectively, the EU and the United Kingdom transmission system operators of 22 January 2021 concerning the development of technical procedures for calculating and allocating transmission capacities to ensure efficient trade over electricity interconnectors under the EU-United Kingdom Trade and Cooperation Agreement



Annex I-A

Preliminary recommendation of the Directorate-General for Energy of the European Commission to EU transmission system operators for electricity of 22 January 2021 concerning the development of technical procedures for calculating and allocating transmission capacities to ensure efficient trade over electricity interconnectors under the EU-United Kingdom Trade and Cooperation Agreement




EUROPEAN COMMISSION

DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR ENERGY

[sender]

Brussels, 22 January 2021

[addressee at ENTSO-E]

Subject: Developing draft technical procedures for calculating and allocating transmission capacities to ensure efficient trade over electricity interconnectors following the Trade and Cooperation Agreement

Dear [addressee],

As you will be aware, a Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, (“the Agreement”) was signed on 30 December 2020 and provisionally applied by the Parties from 1 January 2021.

Under Article ENER.19 of the Agreement, the Union and the UK must ensure that their transmission system operators cooperate to develop technical procedures on a series of areas, including the use of interconnectors, if so recommended by the Specialised Committee on Energy. During the negotiations, it was agreed between the Union and the UK that it is appropriate that certain of these technical procedures are developed now, and in advance of the commencement of the work of the Specialised Committee on Energy. ENTSO-E is therefore requested to develop draft technical procedures for calculating and allocating transmission capacities to ensure efficient trade over electricity interconnectors. Once operational the Specialised Committee on Energy will follow all work related to the development of the technical procedures.

The draft technical procedures should address capacity calculation and capacity allocation on all relevant timeframes.

This request aims to give effect to aspects of Articles ENER.13, ENER.14 and ENER.19 of the Agreement in relation to efficient use of electricity interconnection, and should be understood in that context. In particular, the technical procedures should not involve or imply participation by United Kingdom transmission system operators in Union procedures for capacity allocation and congestion management.

ENTSO-E should develop these technical procedures in cooperation with UK transmission system operators for electricity in the context of the cooperation established in the Memorandum of Understanding established to give effect to aspects of Article ENER.19 of the Agreement.

More detail on what should be included in the draft technical procedures is set out in Annex 2 (capacity calculation), Annex 3 (capacity allocation) and Annex 4.

Specifically, concerning capacity calculation and allocation for the day-ahead timeframe, we request the preparation of a Day Ahead Target model based on the concept of “Multi-region loose volume coupling” that is in accordance with Article ENER.14, ENER.19 and Annex ENER-4 of the Agreement; in accordance with those provisions, this should begin as a matter of priority. Annex ENER-4 to the Agreement is replicated at Annex 4 to this letter.

Part 2 of Annex ENER-4 to the Agreement sets out a timeline for the development of the technical procedures for the day-ahead timeframe. The dates set out below are based on this timeline, which in accordance with Article FINPROV.11.3 of the Agreement, we have calculated from 1 January 2021, being the date of provisional application of the Agreement.

To support the development of the Day Ahead Target model, and in line with Annex ENER-4, we request that an outline of the proposals and a cost benefit analysis to assess the added value of the Target model are completed by 1 April 2021. The outline proposals and cost benefit analysis should be developed in accordance with Annex 5 of this letter.

We request that draft technical procedures are submitted to the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (the Agency) for their opinion. Prior to this, we request ENTSO-E to carry out appropriate consultation with market parties on the draft technical procedures. Following receipt of the opinion, we request you submit it together with the draft technical procedures to the Specialised Committee on Energy in sufficient time to enable them to be implemented by 1 April 2022.

Concerning capacity calculation and allocation for timeframes other than the day ahead timeframe, we invite ENTSO-E to propose a timeline for developing the draft technical procedures.

I am copying this letter to my counterpart at the the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, who is sending an equivalent letter to UK TSOs for electricity, a copy of which is included as Annex 1 to this letter.

Yours sincerely,

[signature sender]

Copy

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Annex 1

Letter from the [sender] at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to UK TSOs for electricity

Annex 2 Capacity calculation

The draft technical procedures should set out terms, conditions and methodologies for the allocation of interconnection capacity which can subsequently be made available to the market.

This capacity should be calculated in a coordinated manner across electricity interconnectors.

Capacities should be maximized across electricity interconnectors. This requirement should:

take account of TSOs’ obligations to comply with safety standards of secure network operation;

respect the bidding-zone borders within the EU and UK established under the relevant domestic frameworks;

allow EU TSOs to comply with the requirement to provide at least 70% of their capacities on bidding-zone borders within the EU as set out in Article 16(8) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943;

provide for non-discrimination between transmission system operators in the Union and the United Kingdom in the calculation of capacity;

be supported by a coordinated process for remedial actions across electricity interconnectors, including redispatching and counter-trading;

be supported by a cost-sharing arrangement between the Parties’ TSOs related to redispatching and counter-trading.

As far as technically possible, the Parties’ TSOs shall net the capacity requirements of any power flows in opposite directions over electricity interconnectors in order to use the interconnectors to their maximum capacity.

In relation to capacity calculation, TSOs should publish at least:

annually: information on the long-term evolution of the transmission infrastructure and its impact on cross-border transmission capacity;

monthly: month- and year-ahead forecasts of the transmission capacity available to the market, taking into account all relevant information available to the TSO at the time of the forecast calculation (for example, impact of summer and winter seasons on the capacity of lines, maintenance of the network, availability of production units, etc.);

weekly: week-ahead forecasts of the transmission capacity available to the market, taking into account all relevant information available to the TSOs at the time of calculation of the forecast, such as the weather forecast, planned network maintenance work, availability of production units, etc.;

daily: day-ahead and intra-day transmission capacity available to the market for each market time unit, taking into account all netted day-ahead nominations, day-ahead production schedules, demand forecasts and planned network maintenance work;

total capacity already allocated, by market time unit, and all relevant conditions under which that capacity may be used (for example, auction clearing price, obligations on how to use the capacity, etc.), so as to identify any remaining capacity;

allocated capacity as soon as possible after each allocation, as well as an indication of prices paid

total capacity used, by market time unit, immediately after nomination

as closely as possible to real time: aggregated realised commercial and physical flows, by market time unit, including a description of the effects of any corrective actions taken by the TSOs (such as curtailment) for solving network or system problems

relevant information to assess whether electricity interconnector capacity has been calculated and allocated in a manner consistent with the EU-UK Agreement

Annex 3 Capacity allocation

The draft technical procedures should set out terms, conditions and methodologies for the allocation of interconnection capacity to the market for the following timeframes:

Forward; 

Day ahead;

Intraday.

For each timeframe the methodology should:

provide for coordinated auctions for all electricity interconnectors;

include rules for nomination, curtailment, firmness, remuneration, transfer and return of acquired transmission capacities as well as for fall-back procedures and compensation in case of curtailment

include rules for distributing congestion income

prohibit transmission system operators to charge reserve prices where no congestion occurs on the electricity interconnectors, unless an exemption applies.

Annex 4 - Day ahead Target model: “Multi-region loose volume coupling”

Part 1

1.The new procedure for the allocation of capacity on electricity interconnectors at the day-ahead market timeframe shall be based on the concept of “Multi-region loose volume coupling”. The overall objective of the new procedure shall be to maximise the benefits of trade. As the first step in developing the new procedure, the Parties shall ensure that transmission system operators prepare outline proposals and a cost-benefit analysis.

2.Multi-region loose volume coupling shall involve the development of a market coupling function to determine the net energy positions (implicit allocation) between:

(a)bidding zones established in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/943, which are directly connected to the United Kingdom by an electricity interconnector; and

(b)the United Kingdom.

3.The net energy positions over electricity interconnectors shall be calculated via an implicit allocation process by applying a specific algorithm to:

(a)commercial bids and offers for the day-ahead market timeframe from the bidding zones established in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/943 which are directly connected to the United Kingdom by an electricity interconnector;

(b)commercial bids and offers for the day-ahead market timeframe from relevant day-ahead markets in the United Kingdom;

(c)network capacity data and system capabilities determined in accordance with the procedures agreed between transmission system operators; and

(d)data on expected commercial flows of electricity interconnections between bidding zones connected to the United Kingdom and other bidding zones in the Union, as determined by Union transmission system operators using robust methodologies.

This process shall be compatible with the specific characteristics of direct current electricity interconnectors, including losses and ramping requirements.

4.The market coupling function shall:

(a)produce results sufficiently in advance of the operation of the Parties’ respective day-ahead markets (for the Union this is single day-ahead coupling established in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1222 1 ) in order that such results may be used as inputs into the processes which determine the results in those markets;

(b)produce results which are reliable and repeatable;

(c)be a specific process to link the distinct and separate day-ahead markets in the Union and the United Kingdom; in particular, this means that the specific algorithm shall be distinct and separate from that used in single day-ahead coupling established in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2015/1222 and, in respect of commercial bids and offers of the Union, only have access to those from bidding zones which are directly connected to the United Kingdom by an electricity interconnector.

5.The calculated net energy positions shall be published following validation and verification. If the market coupling function is unable either to operate or to produce a result, electricity interconnector capacity shall be allocated by a fall-back process, and market participants shall be notified that the fall-back process will apply.

6.The costs of developing and implementing the technical procedures shall be equally shared between the relevant United Kingdom transmission system operators or other entities, on the one side, and relevant Union transmission system operators or other entities, on the other side, unless the Specialised Committee on Energy decides otherwise.

Part 2

The timeline for the implementation of this Annex shall be from the entry into force of this Agreement, as follows:

(a)within 3 months – cost benefit analysis and outline of proposals for technical procedures;

(b)within 10 months – proposal for technical procedures;

(c)within 15 months – entry into operation of technical procedures.

Annex 5: Requirements of the outline proposals and cost benefit analysis

As set out in Part 1 of Annex ENER – 4 of the Agreement, the first stage of development of the new day-ahead arrangements is to develop outline proposals and a cost-benefit analysis.

The outline proposals should:

set out the high-level design of the multi-region loose volume coupling solution;

identify the roles and responsibilities of industry parties;

contain an implementation plan;

highlight any implementation risks or issues, with proposals on how to resolve those; and;

assess the impact of differences between the carbon pricing regimes of the parties on flows over interconnectors.

The cost benefit analysis should take account of the objective of the arrangements to maximise the benefits of trade which means that, within the constraints referred to in Annex ENER-4 of the Agreement, the trading arrangements:

should be as efficient as possible, and;

should, under normal circumstances, result in flows across electricity interconnectors being consistent with the prices in the Parties’ day-ahead markets.



Annex I-B

Preliminary recommendation of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of the United Kingdom Government to the United Kingdom transmission system operator for electricity of 22 January 2021 concerning the development of technical procedures for calculating and allocating transmission capacities to ensure efficient trade over electricity interconnectors under the EU-United Kingdom Trade and Cooperation Agreement

[sender at the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy]

[addressee at the UK TSO for

electricity]

Friday, 22 January 2021

Dear [addressee],

Developing draft technical procedures for calculating and allocating transmission capacities to ensure efficient trade over electricity interconnectors following the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement

As you will be aware, a Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, (“the Agreement”) was signed on 30 December 2020 and provisionally applied by the Parties from 1 January 2021. Under Article ENER.19 of the Agreement, the Union and the UK must ensure that their transmission system operators cooperate to develop technical procedures on a series of areas, including the use of interconnectors, if so recommended by the Specialised Committee on Energy. During the negotiations, it was agreed between the Union and the UK that it is appropriate that certain of these technical procedures are developed now, and in advance of the commencement of the work of the Specialised Committee on Energy. UK TSOs for electricity are therefore requested to develop draft technical procedures for calculating and allocating transmission capacities to ensure efficient trade over electricity interconnectors. Once operational the Specialised Committee on Energy will follow all work related to the development of the technical procedures.

The draft technical procedures should address capacity calculation and capacity allocation on all relevant timeframes.

This request aims to give effect to aspects of Articles ENER.13, ENER.14 and ENER.19 of the Agreement in relation to efficient use of electricity interconnection, and should be understood in that context. In particular, the technical procedures should not involve or imply participation by United Kingdom transmission system operators in Union procedures for capacity allocation and congestion management.

UK TSOs for electricity should develop these technical procedures in cooperation with ENTSO-E in the context of the cooperation established in the Memorandum of Understanding established to give effect to aspects of Article ENER.19 of the Agreement.

More detail on what should be included in the draft technical procedures is set out in Annex 2 (capacity calculation), Annex 3 (capacity allocation) and Annex 4.

Specifically, concerning capacity calculation and allocation for the day-ahead timeframe, we request the preparation of a Day Ahead Target model based on the concept of “Multi-region loose volume coupling” that is in accordance with Article ENER.14, ENER.19 and Annex ENER-4 of the Agreement; in accordance with those provisions, this should begin as a matter of priority. Annex ENER—4 to the Agreement is replicated at Annex 4 to this letter.

Part 2 of Annex ENER-4 to the Agreement sets out a timeline for the development of the technical procedures for the day-ahead timeframe. The dates set out below are based on this timeline, which in accordance with Article FINPROV.11.3 of the Agreement, we have calculated from 1 January 2021, being the date of provisional application of the Agreement.

To support the development of the Day Ahead Target model, and in line with Annex ENER-4, we request that an outline of the proposals and a cost benefit analysis to assess the added value of the Target model are completed by 1 April 2021. The outline proposals and cost benefit analysis should be developed in accordance with Annex 5 of this letter.

We request that draft technical procedures are submitted to the UK regulatory authorities for their opinion. Prior to this, we request the UK TSOs for electricity to carry out appropriate consultation with market parties on the draft technical procedures. Following receipt of the opinion, we request you submit it together with the draft technical procedures to the Specialised Committee on Energy in sufficient time to enable them to be implemented by 1 April 2022.

Concerning capacity calculation and allocation for timeframes other than the day ahead timeframe, we invite UK TSOs for electricity to propose to the Specialised Committee on Energy a timeline for developing the draft technical procedures.

I am copying this letter to my counterpart at the Directorate General for Energy of European Commission, who is sending an equivalent letter to ENTSO-E, a copy of which is included as Annex 1 to this letter.

Yours sincerely,

[signature sender]

Copy

Directorate General for Energy of the European Commission

Annex 1

Letter from Directorate General for Energy of European Commission to ENTSO-E

Annex 2 Capacity calculation

The draft technical procedures should set out terms, conditions and methodologies for the allocation of interconnection capacity which can subsequently be made available to the market.

This capacity should be calculated in a coordinated manner across electricity interconnectors.

Capacities should be maximized across electricity interconnectors. This requirement should:

take account of TSOs’ obligations to comply with safety standards of secure network operation;

respect the bidding-zone borders within the EU and UK established under the relevant domestic frameworks;

allow EU TSOs to comply with the requirement to provide at least 70% of their capacities on bidding-zone borders within the EU as set out in Article 16(8) of Regulation (EU) 2019/943;

provide for non-discrimination between transmission system operators in the Union and the United Kingdom in the calculation of capacity;

be supported by a coordinated process for remedial actions across electricity interconnectors, including redispatching and counter-trading;

be supported by a cost-sharing arrangement between the Parties’ TSOs related to redispatching and counter-trading;

As far as technically possible, the Parties’ TSOs shall net the capacity requirements of any power flows in opposite directions over electricity interconnectors in order to use the interconnectors to their maximum capacity.

In relation to capacity calculation, TSOs should publish at least:

annually: information on the long-term evolution of the transmission infrastructure and its impact on cross-border transmission capacity;

monthly: month- and year-ahead forecasts of the transmission capacity available to the market, taking into account all relevant information available to the TSO at the time of the forecast calculation (for example, impact of summer and winter seasons on the capacity of lines, maintenance of the network, availability of production units, etc.);

weekly: week-ahead forecasts of the transmission capacity available to the market, taking into account all relevant information available to the TSOs at the time of calculation of the forecast, such as the weather forecast, planned network maintenance work, availability of production units, etc.;

daily: day-ahead and intra-day transmission capacity available to the market for each market time unit, taking into account all netted day-ahead nominations, day-ahead production schedules, demand forecasts and planned network maintenance work;

total capacity already allocated, by market time unit, and all relevant conditions under which that capacity may be used (for example, auction clearing price, obligations on how to use the capacity, etc.), so as to identify any remaining capacity;

allocated capacity as soon as possible after each allocation, as well as an indication of prices paid

total capacity used, by market time unit, immediately after nomination;

as closely as possible to real time: aggregated realised commercial and physical flows, by market time unit, including a description of the effects of any corrective actions taken by the TSOs (such as curtailment) for solving network or system problems;

relevant information to assess whether electricity interconnector capacity has been calculated and allocated in a manner consistent with the EU-UK Agreement.

Annex 3 Capacity allocation

The draft technical procedures should set out terms, conditions and methodologies for the allocation of interconnection capacity to the market for the following timeframes:

Forward;

Day ahead;

Intraday.

For each timeframe the methodology should:

provide for coordinated auctions for all electricity interconnectors;

include rules for nomination, curtailment, firmness, remuneration, transfer and return of acquired transmission capacities as well as for fall-back procedures and compensation in case of curtailment − include rules for distributing congestion income

prohibit TSOs to charge reserve prices where no congestion occurs on the electricity interconnectors, unless an exemption applies.

Annex 4 - Day ahead Target model: “Multi-region loose volume coupling”

Part 1

1.The new procedure for the allocation of capacity on electricity interconnectors at the day-ahead market timeframe shall be based on the concept of “Multi-region loose volume coupling”. The overall objective of the new procedure shall be to maximise the benefits of trade. As the first step in developing the new procedure, the Parties shall ensure that transmission system operators prepare outline proposals and a cost-benefit analysis.

2.Multi-region loose volume coupling shall involve the development of a market coupling function to determine the net energy positions (implicit allocation) between:

(a)bidding zones established in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/943, which are directly connected to the United Kingdom by an electricity interconnector; and

(b)the United Kingdom.

3.The net energy positions over electricity interconnectors shall be calculated via an implicit allocation process by applying a specific algorithm to:

(a)commercial bids and offers for the day-ahead market timeframe from the bidding zones established in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/943 which are directly connected to the United Kingdom by an electricity interconnector;

(b)commercial bids and offers for the day-ahead market timeframe from relevant day-ahead markets in the United Kingdom;

(c)network capacity data and system capabilities determined in accordance with the procedures agreed between transmission system operators; and

(d)data on expected commercial flows of electricity interconnections between bidding zones connected to the United Kingdom and other bidding zones in the Union, as determined by Union transmission system operators using robust methodologies.

This process shall be compatible with the specific characteristics of direct current electricity interconnectors, including losses and ramping requirements.

4.The market coupling function shall:

(a)produce results sufficiently in advance of the operation of the Parties’ respective day-ahead markets (for the Union this is single day-ahead coupling established in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/12221 2 ) in order that such results may be used as inputs into the processes which determine the results in those markets;

(b)produce results which are reliable and repeatable;

(c)be a specific process to link the distinct and separate day-ahead markets in the Union and the United Kingdom; in particular, this means that the specific algorithm shall be distinct and separate from that used in single day-ahead coupling established in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2015/1222 and, in respect of commercial bids and offers of the Union, only have access to those from bidding zones which are directly connected to the United Kingdom by an electricity interconnector.

5.The calculated net energy positions shall be published following validation and verification. If the market coupling function is unable either to operate or to produce a result, electricity interconnector capacity shall be allocated by a fall-back process, and market participants shall be notified that the fall-back process will apply.

6.The costs of developing and implementing the technical procedures shall be equally shared between the relevant United Kingdom transmission system operators or other entities, on the one side, and relevant Union transmission system operators or other entities, on the other side, unless the Specialised Committee on Energy decides otherwise.

Part 2

The timeline for the implementation of this Annex shall be from the entry into force of this Agreement, as follows:

(a)within 3 months – cost benefit analysis and outline of proposals for technical procedures;

(b)within 10 months – proposal for technical procedures;

(c)within 15 months – entry into operation of technical procedures.

Annex 5: Requirements of the outline proposals and cost benefit analysis

As set out in Part 1 of Annex ENER – 4 of the Agreement, the first stage of development of the new day-ahead arrangements is to develop outline proposals and a cost-benefit analysis.

The outline proposals should:

set out the high-level design of the multi-region loose volume coupling solution;

identify the roles and responsibilities of industry parties;

contain an implementation plan;

highlight any implementation risks or issues, with proposals on how to resolve those; and

assess the impact of differences between the carbon pricing regimes of the parties on flows over interconnectors.

The cost benefit analysis should take account of the objective of the arrangements to maximise the benefits of trade which means that, within the constraints referred to in Annex ENER-4 of the Agreement, the trading arrangements:

should be as efficient as possible, and;

should, under normal circumstances, result in flows across electricity interconnectors being consistent with the prices in the Parties’ day-ahead markets.

Annex II

Draft letter of the Directorate-General for Energy of the European Commission and of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of the United Kingdom Government to their respective transmission system operators for electricity requesting to provide additional information in view of preparing technical procedures for capacity allocation and congestion management at the day ahead timeframe under the EU-United Kingdom Trade and Cooperation Agreement

[address transmission system operator for electricity EU or UK]

[date]

Subject: Request for additional information in view of preparing technical procedures for capacity allocation and congestion management at the day ahead timeframe under the EU- United Kingdom Trade and Cooperation Agreement

Dear [placeholder: addressee],

Thank you for your work to date progressing the implementation of the Energy Title of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and in particular the publication of the cost-benefit analysis and outline proposal supported by the opinion of [placeholder: UK national regulators [or] ACER] in April 2021.

Further to the meeting of the Specialised Committee on Energy on 30 March 2022 and its Recommendation [placeholder: No. X/202x] made on [placeholder: date], [placeholder: the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy of the United Kingdom Government [or] the Directorate General for Energy of the European Commission] request that you provide answers to the questions set out in the annex to this letter within 5 months of receiving this letter.

The [placeholder: transmission system operator [or] ENTSO-E, facilitating the work of the EU transmission system operators,] should furthermore request an informal opinion of the [placeholder: UK national energy regulators [or] ACER] on this additional information and submit it together with the answers to the questions set out in the Annex.

In advance, I wish to thank you for your additional effort on this subject.

[signature]

Cc: [sender at Directorate General for Energy of the European Commission or, as appropriate,

at Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of the United Kingdom Government]

Annex

Context: The following questions relate to the options set out by the UK and EU transmission system operators in the cost-benefit analysis published April 2021. Note that point 3 of Annex 29 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement requires the net energy positions over electricity interconnectors to be calculated via an implicit allocation process by applying a specific algorithm including commercial bids and offers for the day-ahead market timeframe from relevant day-ahead markets in the United Kingdom. The UK and EU transmission system operators’ cost-benefit analysis identified that a single GB price is highly desirable for the efficient implementation of Multi-region loose volume coupling (MRLVC) in all MRLVC design options. In September 2021, BEIS opened a consultation to seek views on the current arrangements for trading electricity on power exchanges in the Great Britain wholesale electricity market and our proposals to support efficient cross-border trading. In particular, BEIS set out a high-level approach for the coupling of specific daily day-ahead auctions, which would be used as the ‘relevant day-ahead markets’ for the purposes of Annex 29 to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, with the aim of seeking stakeholder views on whether to implement this, and if so how to do so in practice. This consultation closed in November 2021, and the UK Government will publish a response in due course.

1. With respect to the Preliminary Order Book option identified by transmission system operators:

(a)What proportion of orders for Single Day-Ahead Coupling (SDAC) are typically submitted during the final l5 minutes before the Gate Closure Time (GCT), within what range does that proportion typically vary, and are there specific drivers for when market participants submit their orders and could these drivers change as a result of implementing the Preliminary Order Book Option?

(b)To what extent would the proportion of orders submitted during the final l5 minutes before the SDAC GCT impact on the interconnector flows being consistent with the prices in the Parties’ day-ahead markets?

(c)Would this option fully mitigate or still face any of the timing issues identified with the Common Order Book Options? Any operational impacts and risks should be fully explained and substantiated.

(d) Do the requirements of Article 305 (Prohibition of market abuse on wholesale electricity and gas market) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement provide sufficient mitigation of the risks of market manipulation identified as arising under the Preliminary Order book option? Any residual risks of market manipulation should be fully explained and justified.

(e)Are there further actions, requirements, or obligations, including of regulatory authorities or market participants, transmissions system operators, or market operators, that could be established to provide further mitigations to the risk of market manipulation identified with the Preliminary Order Book option? Any residual risks of market manipulation should be fully explained and justified.

2.With respect to the Common Order Book options identified by transmission system operators:

(a)What are the full range of options that could allow for the MRLVC MCO calculation processes to be run between SDAC GCT at 12:00 CET and publication of SDAC results at 13:00 CET, including any options that allow for the MRLVC MCO calculation processes to be run in parallel with aspects of SDAC?

What are the advantages/disadvantages between these options, including:

(1)the potential impacts on the operation of SDAC and fallback processes, (i.e., risks of decoupling of SDAC);

(2)the impact on transmission system operators, market operators, and market participants

Any operational impacts and risks should be fully explained and substantiated.

(b)For other additional common order book options identified by TSOs in the cost benefit analysis (a change in timing of SDAC GCT and/or the publication of SDAC results), what are the advantages/ disadvantages between these options, including:

(1)the impact on the processes before (e.g., capacity calculation) and after SDAC (e.g. intraday/ balancing markets);

(2)the impact on transmission system operators, market operators and the impact on market participants of any increased time between SDAC GCT and SDAC results.

Any operational impacts and risks should be fully explained and substantiated.

3.With respect to both the Preliminary and Common Order Book options:

(a)What are the different processes required for performing the MRLVC MCO calculation, and what is the range of time that would be required for each of those processes? Any range in potential timeframe should be fully explained and substantiated.

(b)Please provide an outline proposal for the Bordering Bidding Zone (BBZ) Methodology for establishing an accurate and robust forecast. In setting this out, please include;

(1)the key issues, principles, and parameters (including input data, outputs, and the use of outputs in MRLVC) that need to be addressed and established by the BBZ Methodology, and;

(2)a timescale within which this methodology could be established and made operational.

(3)a preliminary qualitative assessment of how the proposed BBZ methodology in conjunction with MRLVC is expected to perform, compared to the results of the allocation of capacity through explicit auctions to deliver more efficient trading arrangements, and, in particular, under what conditions the proposed methodology in conjunction with MRLVC outperforms explicit auctions.

(c)Implementation

(1)What are the detailed steps required to implement all aspects of both Preliminary and Common Order Book options, including processes to test and verify the performance of MRLVC before full operation, roles and responsibilities of transmission system operators, market operators, and market participants, how could these aspects be implemented in the shortest possible time, and how could the structure and content of the technical procedures best support efficient implementation?

(2)Please provide a realistic timeline for implementation for each option (such a timeline should take into account current and established future developments and include all the necessary steps such as stakeholder consultations, implementation of new IT systems for MRLVC MCO, testing phases, governance processes, etc.).

(3)What are the anticipated direct costs of implementing and operating MRLVC for the different roles and functions necessary for MRLVC?

(1)    Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1222 of 24 July 2015 establishing a guideline on capacity allocation and congestion management (OJ EU L 197, 25.7.2015, p. 24).
(2)    Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1222 of 24 July 2015 establishing a guideline on capacity allocation and congestion management (OJ EU L 197, 25.7.2015, p. 24).
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