Security of electricity supply
EU has a legislation to prepare and manage electricity crisis situations. This legislation asks member states ti cooperate very closely in preventing and face a crisis.
The EU Regulation
The Regulation (EU) 2019/941 on risk preparedness in the electricity sector requires the competent authorities of all EU countries to cooperate with each other to ensure that, in the event of an electricity crisis, electricity goes where it is needed most. In practice, the Regulation introduces requirements for the adoption of adequate tools to prevent, prepare and manage any electrical crises in a spirit of solidarity and transparency. Furthermore, the regulation introduces common methodologies to identify crisis scenarios and to assess the short-term and seasonal adequacy of electricity production and consumption to preserve grid stability and avoid shortages. Hence, in a spirit of solidarity, EU countries must agree on measures to offer mutual assistance for crisis prevention and management, in particular with the aim of protecting public safety and personal security. To help design and agree on the application of this assistance mechanism, the Commission has published the Recommendation (EU) 2020/775 on the key elements of fair compensation and other key elements to be included in financial arrangements between EU countries for the application of the mechanism. assistance, referred to in Article 15 of Regulation (EU) 2019/941. |
Network code on emergency and restoration
The Regulation establishing a network code on emergency and restoration entered into force on 18 December 2017 and sets down rules relating to the management of the electricity transmission system in emergency, blackout and restoration states.
Europe’s cross-border electricity networks are operated according to rules that help govern the work of operators and determine how access to electricity is given to users across the EU. In the past, these grid operation and trading rules were drawn up nationally. As electricity is increasingly interconnected between countries, the EU-wide rules effectively manage these electricity flows in the internal energy market.
These rules, known as network codes or guidelines, are legally binding European Commission implementing Regulations. They govern all cross-border electricity market transactions and system operations alongside the Regulation (EC)714/2009 on conditions for accessing the network for cross-border electricity exchanges.
Development of network codes and guidelines
Each year, the European Commission draws up an 'annual priority list' of areas to be included in the development of network codes for electricity, with input from a public consultation.
The Commission, with further input from the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), adopts proposals for network codes. The proposals for network codes are checked by an Electricity cross-border committee of specialists from national energy ministries and then adopted with the approval of the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament.
Sometimes the new rules are adopted as 'guidelines' rather than 'network codes.' These are adopted under a different provision of the Electricity Regulation (EC) No 714/2009 but they have the same status – they are both legally binding regulations.
The Electricity Regulatory Forum (Florence Forum)
The forum, also referred to as the Florence Forum, was set up to discuss the creation of the internal electricity market. The forum participants include national regulatory authorities, Member State governments, the European Commission, transmission system operators, electricity traders, consumers, network users, and power exchanges.
Since 1998 the forum has met once per year in Florence, Italy.
Market and trading guidelines
Capacity allocation and congestion managementThe Regulation (EU) 2015/1222 establishing a guideline on capacity allocation and congestion management (CACM) entered into force on 15 August 2015. The provisions of CACM govern the establishment of cross-border EU electricity markets in the day-ahead and intraday timeframes, as well as methods for the calculation of interconnection capacity.
Forward capacity allocation
The Regulation (EU) 2016/1719 establishing a guideline on forward capacity allocation (FCA) entered into force on 17 October 2016. The provisions of FCA establish a framework for the calculation and allocation of interconnection capacity, and for cross-border trading, in forward markets (i.e. timeframes longer than day-ahead).
Balancing
The Regulation (EU) 2017/2195 establishing a guideline on electricity balancing (EB) entered into force on 18 December 2017. The balancing guideline will set down rules on the operation of balancing markets, i.e. those markets that transmission system operators (TSOs) use to procure energy and capacity to keep the system in balance in real time. The objectives of the guideline include increasing the opportunities for cross-border trading and the efficiency of balancing markets.
Connection and system operation codes and guidelines
Emergency and restorationThe Regulation (EU) 2017/2196 establishing a network code on emergency and restoration entered into force on 18 December 2017. The emergency and restoration network code will set down rules relating to the management of the electricity transmission system in the emergency, blackout and restoration states. The main objective of the relevant rules is to bring the system back to the normal state.
Demand connection
The Regulation (EU) 2016/1388establishing a network code on demand connection (DCC) entered into force on 7 September 2016. The provisions of DCC set out detailed rules relating to the connection of, principally, new demand facilities to national electricity networks.
Requirements for generators
The Regulation (EU) 2016/631 establishing a network code on requirement for grid connection of generators entered into force on 17 May 2016. The provisions of the regulation set out detailed rules relating to the connection of, principally, new power generating installations to national electricity networks.
High-voltage direct current
The Regulation (EU) 2016/1447 establishing a network code on requirements for grid connection of high-voltage direct current system and direct current-connected power park modules (HVDC) entered into force on 28 September 2016. The provisions of HVDC set out detailed rules relating to the connection of, principally, new high-voltage direct current systems to national electricity networks.
System operation
The Regulation (EU) 2017/1485 establishing a guideline on electricity transmission system operation (SO) entered into force on 14 September 2017. The provisions of SO establish a framework for the maintenance of the secure operation of the interconnected transmission system in real time.
Archieve of electricity network codes and guidelines
The Regulation establishing a network code on emergency and restoration entered into force on 18 December 2017 and sets down rules relating to the management of the electricity transmission system in emergency, blackout and restoration states.
Europe’s cross-border electricity networks are operated according to rules that help govern the work of operators and determine how access to electricity is given to users across the EU. In the past, these grid operation and trading rules were drawn up nationally. As electricity is increasingly interconnected between countries, the EU-wide rules effectively manage these electricity flows in the internal energy market.
These rules, known as network codes or guidelines, are legally binding European Commission implementing Regulations. They govern all cross-border electricity market transactions and system operations alongside the Regulation (EC)714/2009 on conditions for accessing the network for cross-border electricity exchanges.
Development of network codes and guidelines
Each year, the European Commission draws up an 'annual priority list' of areas to be included in the development of network codes for electricity, with input from a public consultation.
The Commission, with further input from the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), adopts proposals for network codes. The proposals for network codes are checked by an Electricity cross-border committee of specialists from national energy ministries and then adopted with the approval of the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament.
Sometimes the new rules are adopted as 'guidelines' rather than 'network codes.' These are adopted under a different provision of the Electricity Regulation (EC) No 714/2009 but they have the same status – they are both legally binding regulations.
The Electricity Regulatory Forum (Florence Forum)
The forum, also referred to as the Florence Forum, was set up to discuss the creation of the internal electricity market. The forum participants include national regulatory authorities, Member State governments, the European Commission, transmission system operators, electricity traders, consumers, network users, and power exchanges.
Since 1998 the forum has met once per year in Florence, Italy.
Market and trading guidelines
Capacity allocation and congestion managementThe Regulation (EU) 2015/1222 establishing a guideline on capacity allocation and congestion management (CACM) entered into force on 15 August 2015. The provisions of CACM govern the establishment of cross-border EU electricity markets in the day-ahead and intraday timeframes, as well as methods for the calculation of interconnection capacity.
Forward capacity allocation
The Regulation (EU) 2016/1719 establishing a guideline on forward capacity allocation (FCA) entered into force on 17 October 2016. The provisions of FCA establish a framework for the calculation and allocation of interconnection capacity, and for cross-border trading, in forward markets (i.e. timeframes longer than day-ahead).
Balancing
The Regulation (EU) 2017/2195 establishing a guideline on electricity balancing (EB) entered into force on 18 December 2017. The balancing guideline will set down rules on the operation of balancing markets, i.e. those markets that transmission system operators (TSOs) use to procure energy and capacity to keep the system in balance in real time. The objectives of the guideline include increasing the opportunities for cross-border trading and the efficiency of balancing markets.
Connection and system operation codes and guidelines
Emergency and restorationThe Regulation (EU) 2017/2196 establishing a network code on emergency and restoration entered into force on 18 December 2017. The emergency and restoration network code will set down rules relating to the management of the electricity transmission system in the emergency, blackout and restoration states. The main objective of the relevant rules is to bring the system back to the normal state.
Demand connection
The Regulation (EU) 2016/1388establishing a network code on demand connection (DCC) entered into force on 7 September 2016. The provisions of DCC set out detailed rules relating to the connection of, principally, new demand facilities to national electricity networks.
Requirements for generators
The Regulation (EU) 2016/631 establishing a network code on requirement for grid connection of generators entered into force on 17 May 2016. The provisions of the regulation set out detailed rules relating to the connection of, principally, new power generating installations to national electricity networks.
High-voltage direct current
The Regulation (EU) 2016/1447 establishing a network code on requirements for grid connection of high-voltage direct current system and direct current-connected power park modules (HVDC) entered into force on 28 September 2016. The provisions of HVDC set out detailed rules relating to the connection of, principally, new high-voltage direct current systems to national electricity networks.
System operation
The Regulation (EU) 2017/1485 establishing a guideline on electricity transmission system operation (SO) entered into force on 14 September 2017. The provisions of SO establish a framework for the maintenance of the secure operation of the interconnected transmission system in real time.
Archieve of electricity network codes and guidelines
Electricity coordination group
The Electricity Coordination Group is a forum for the exchange of information and coordination of electricity policy measures having a cross-border impact. It also shares experiences, best practices and expertise on security of supply in electricity, including risk-preparedness, generation adequacy and cross-border grid stability, and assists the Commission in designing its policy initiatives.
The group's members represent:
The group's members represent:
- national government authorities, in particular ministries responsible for energy
- national energy regulatory authorities for energy
- the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER)
- the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E).