2006

Gas Balancing: ERGEG Guidelines 2006
Ref. E06-GFG-17-04,6 December 2006

The final GGPGB represent ERGEG’s advice to the European Commission on its interpretation of Article 7 of the Gas Regulation. They are applicable from their publication date (15 December 2006) and compliance is fully requested by 1 April 2007. ERGEG has developed the GGPGB through extensive and transparent consultation with market participants. The evaluation of comments. paper of the responses received is available on the public consultation page.

Gas Storage Guidelines - December 2006

On 7 December 2006, the ERGEG published the Final 2006 Report on Monitoring the Implementation of the Guidelines for Good TPA Practice for Storage System Operators (E06-GFG-20-03).

The 2006 reports shows that compliance with the voluntary gas storage guidelines (GGPSSO) remains unsatisfactory in key areas such as transparency, non-discriminatory treatment of storage users and congestion management mechanisms. Regulators also underline the need for levelling national regulators’ competences in this respect.

ERGEG has recommended to the European Commission the need for legally binding rules for storage system operators to ensure non-discriminatory access to storage. (See press release PR-06-13)

As requested by the 10th Madrid Forum in 2005, ERGEG undertook this second monitoring exercise. ERGEG requested SSOs to update their 2005 responses and fill in a new questionnaire. In addition, each ERGEG member (i.e. national regulator) with storage facilities within their jurisdiction filled out a short national report on storage (“Storage National Report”). These reports focused on those GGPSSO requirements which are easier to monitor at national level, e.g. confidentiality requirements and capacity allocation/congestion management mechanisms.

All SSOs’ responses and regulators’ report are available at the XIth Madrid Forum folder.

For further information on the ERGEG monitoring exercises on gas storage, download:

PR-06-13
Press release: Binding legislation is needed to ensure non-discriminatory access to gas storage

E06-GFG-20-03
Final 2006 Report on Monitoring the Implementation of the Guidelines for Good TPA Practice for Storage System Operators (GPSSO)

E06-GBS-09-03
Interim 2006 Report on Monitoring the Implementation of the Guidelines for Good TPA Practice for Storage System Operators (GPSSO)

PR-06-01
Press release: European Energy Regulators disappointed at the level of implementation of the Gas Storage Guidelines in 2005

E05-STO-06-03
Final 2005 Report on Monitoring the Implementation of the Guidelines for Good TPA Practice for Storage System Operators(GGPSSO)

Summary of responses to 2005 Monitoring

GGPSSO Guidelines
23 March 2005 Final Guidelines for Good TPA Practice for Gas Storage System Operators (GGPSSO) which take effect from 1 April 2005 - 23 March 2005

Gas Transmission pricing (for Transit)
Ref. E06-GFG-18-03, 6 December 2006

Here is the final ERGEG report on transmission pricing (for transit) and how it interacts with Entry-Exit systems. After a public consulation process, this report identifies key requirements on how transmission pricing for cross border transport (transit) and regulated entry-exit systems could encourage competition and support a competitive market for natural gas. The consultation paper and responses by stakeholders are also available on the Public Consultation section.

Third Party Access to LNG terminals
November 2006

This study on Third Party Access to LNG terminals, conducted by NERA Economic Consulting, provides an input to the European Regulators for Electricity and Gas (ERGEG) for their consideration of future work on this topic. Should you have any views, please send them to fay.geitona@ceer-eu.org

Gas Regional Initiative launched - April 2006

Below you will find the ERGEG Conclusions Paper to the ERGEG 2005 Public Consultation Paper on the Roadmap for a competitive single gas market in Europe (Gas Road Map).

It forms the basis of the launch (on 25 April 2006) of a major EU-wide Gas Regional Initiative (GRI) designed to identify and remove barriers to competition in 4 EU regions. This regulator-led initiative, which aims to involve all stakeholders including Member States, TSOs and industry, is a practical and achievable way of delivering step-wise progress towards a competitive single European market for gas.

See also Press Release (25 April 2006) and Fact Sheet on Gas Regional Initatives.

PR-06-06
Press release: Roadmap for a competitive single gas market in Europe

E06-GMI-02-03
Roadmap for a competitive single gas market in Europe - An ERGEG Conclusions Paper

E06-GMI-03d
Roadmap for a competitive single gas market in Europe - Fact Sheet

E05-SEM-13-03
Roadmap for a competitive single gas market in Europe - An ERGEG Discussion Paper for Public Consultation

International Benchmarking and Regulation of European Gas Transmission Utilities
This benchmarking report drafted by independent consultants of the Cambridge University reviews possible methods for comparing the efficiency of European gas transmission operators. The report assesses the relative efficiencies of four European gas TSO’s using a variety of cost data, output variables and methodologies. The efficiencies of European TSO’s are also compared with those of US operators. The report provides with recommendations for the application of benchmarking to gas transmission in Europe focusing is aspects such as data collection, data comparability, benchmarking variables and benchmarking techniques. The report concludes that more robust benchmarking results cannot be obtained without long-term commitment to build appropriate databases, and that an agreement is needed on standardisation of data to be collected from TSOs.

ERGEG Guidelines of Good Practice for Gas Balancing (GGPGB)
Ref. E06-GFG-17-04, 6 December 2006

The Draft GGP GB were issued for public consultation in 2005. To view the consultation documents, please click here
Since the publication of the GGP-GB, ERGEG has monitored their implementation. To view the 2008 monitoring report, click here.