National Reporting 2009

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ERGEG 2009 Status Review of the Liberalisation and Implementation of the Energy Regulatory Framework
Ref. C09-URB-24-03, 10 December 2009

This 2009 ERGEG Status Review on the Liberalisation and Implementation of the Regulatory Framework identifies general developments and tendencies in the European energy market.

Drawing from the national regulatory authorities' national reports, ERGEG found that 2008 showed no major progress on most of the main deficiencies reported in last year’s status review; namely that competition in retail electricity and gas markets is almost non-existent and that insufficient unbundling of network companies remains a big obstacle to competition and security of supply.

In particular, the 2009 status review points to a number of major problems from the persistent lack of competition: wholesale and retail markets remain highly concentrated (with few new suppliers); regulated prices (distorting competition) persist in several countries; and there is often a “fuzzy” separation of the distribution system operator (DSO) from the supply arm of vertically-integrated firms.

On the other hand, there are some spots of positive developments mainly relating to wholesale market integration in electricity.

Please see the accompanying press release