Today, NordREG publishes 21 recommendations on how to implement some of the retail market related articles in the Clean Energy Package into national legislation. NordREG believes that a coordinated implementation will have an important and positive impact on the Nordic retail markets.

– The recommendations support the functioning of the retail market and the integration of the Nordic markets which are important factors for efficient competitive markets to the benefit of the consumers, says Carsten Smidt, Director of The Danish Utility Regulator, DUR, and this year´s Chair of NordREG.

NordREG is an organization for the Nordic energy regulators that promotes a legal and institutional framework and conditions necessary for developing Nordic and European electricity markets.

With NordREG´s long-term ambition to work towards a harmonized Nordic retail market in mind, NordREG has selected four retail market related articles in the new electricity directive as particularly important to implement in a similar way. The articles regulate basic contractual rights, fees related to switching, comparison tools and billing information.

When these articles are implemented in national legislation, NordREG recommends that:

• Termination fees for fixed term, fixed price contracts should still be permitted, as long as the fees do not exceed the supplier’s direct economic loss of losing a customer.
• Nordic energy regulators do not issue trust-marks for all comparison tools on the market, but instead ensure the quality of publicly driven comparison tools, according to the standard set by the new directive.
• Five key contractual conditions shall be highlighted in a prominent and easily readable way in the beginning of a supplier contract.
• Customers are able to choose their prefferd direct channel for information on contractual changes during the contract period.
• All customers should be able to receive bills and billing information free of charge. There should be no billing fees for paper bills, but discounts may be allowed for customers that choose electronic bills.

NordREG also publishes several recommendations for how suppliers should present mandatory information on bills.

The published recommendations represent the views of the Nordic energy regulators. However, it depends on the national legislators in each Nordic country how these recommendations will be implemented.

• Link to the full document: Nordic implementation guide for article 10, 12, 14 and 18

About NordREG

NordREG is an organization for the Nordic energy regulators. Our mission is to actively promote legal and institutional framework and conditions necessary for developing the Nordic and European electricity markets. The basis for the co-operation within NordREG is to identify areas of work where cooperation can take the following forms: exchange of views, working together to map and analyze energy market issues, producing reports and statements and taking common action to influence the development of the Nordic or the European energy markets.

The Nordic Energy Regulators will hold a stakeholder meeting on cross-border capacities in the wholesale electricity markets

The meeting will be hosted by the Danish Utility Regulator in Copenhagen on 3 December 2019 from 10.00-15.30.

Among the topics will be the ongoing process on a bidding zone review, the 70 % minimum criterion for transmission capacity and other market development updates in the Nordics and EU.

At the meeting, there will be presentations and representatives from the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), the Nordic Transmission System Operators as well as the Nordic Energy Regulators.

The meeting is open for stakeholders and other interested parties.

A programme for the meeting can be found here: Agenda 3 December 2019

If you are interested in participating, please register at the Danish Utility Regulator on post@forsyningstilsynet.dk stating full name, title and company details and mark your email: “Nordic stakeholder meeting on cross-border capacities”.

Registrations are open until 1 December 2019 on a first come, first serve basis.

In three years’ time all Nordic countries will have a data hub that will facilitate wholesale and retail market processes. The successful implementation of the data hubs and the ability to centralize the handling of market processes is a key factor for the Nordic retail market to work effectively.

In all the Nordic countries the government and regulators have given the transmission system operators (TSOs) the responsibility to operate the data hubs in each respective market.

Data hubs have been implemented successfully in Denmark and Norway. In Finland and Sweden, development of data hubs is in progress. In Finland, the scheduled start date is April 2021, and in Sweden in Autumn 2022.

In the coming years, work will be carried out to develop the existing data hubs further. In Finland and Sweden, the focus is to develop and launch data hubs with the necessary legislation and coordination with market participants.

Link to the full report: NordREG Status report on datahubs – June 2019

The Nordic national regulatory authorities (“Nordic NRAs”) are launching a consultation on the legal proposals submitted from the Nordic TSOs on:

All TSOs’ of CCR Nordic proposal for a methodology for a market-based allocation process of cross-zonal capacity for the exchange of balancing capacity in accordance with Article 41(1) of the Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2195 of 23 November 2017 establishing a guideline on electricity balancing

• Legal Proposal to article 41
• Explanatory document to proposal article 41 EBGL

Energinet, Fingrid, Statnett and Svenska kraftnät proposal in accordance with Article 33(1) and Article 38(1) of the Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2195 of 23 November 2017 establishing a guideline on electricity balancing

• Legal Proposal to article 33 and 38
• Explanatory document to proposal article 33 and 38 EBGL

The Nordic NRAs also ask for stakeholder input on the request for an exemption of transfer of bids:

Energinet, Fingrid, Statnett and Svenska kraftnät proposal for exemption for not allowing balance service providers to transfer their obligations to provide aFFR capacity in accordance with Article 34(1) of the Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2195 of 23 November 2017 establishing a guideline on electricity balancing

• Legal Proposal to article 34
• Explanatory document to proposal article 34 EBGL

The Nordic NRAs will assess and evaluate the proposals for approval within a period of 6 months or request changes to the proposals before the proposals can be approved.

The Nordic NRAs welcome written input on the proposals and the exemption at the latest 3 June 2019. Comments shall be sent to post@forsyningstilsynet.dk with copy to pco@forsyningstilsynet.dk.

Please mark your answers to the consultation with the following reference: Proposals for Nordic aFRR capacity market and cross-zonal capacity allocation.

Contact persons in NordREG

Peter Christian Olsen, DUR
pco@forsyningstilsynet.dk

Elin Larsson, Ei
elin.larsson@ei.se

Jarno Lamponen, EV
Jarno.Lamponen@energiavirasto.fi

Stian Henriksen, NVE
sthe@nve.no

NordREG would like to invite stakeholders and all other interested parties to a follow-up meeting on cross border capacities in the Nordic region. The meeting will be held on the 12th of June 2019 at the Danish Utility Regulators offices in Copenhagen.

The meeting is arranged by NordREG as a follow-up to the meeting 25th of October 2018 in Stockholm on the joint Nordic initiative of monitoring and increased transparency of cross border capacities and practical capacity calculation.

Main topics

• Current capacity calculation practice
  • Mitigating measures/initiatives to reduce reductions in cross-border capacities due to the Swedish West-coast cut (Svenska Kraftnät).
  • Illogical cross-border flows.
• Flow based– the capacity calculation methodology for the future.
• TSOs presentation of a new format Quarterly Capacity Report.

The final agenda will be published before the meeting.

Target group: Stakeholders and other participants participating in the meeting 25th of October 2018 and other interested parties

When: 12th of June 2019 09:30 – 15:30

Where: Danish Utility Regulators offices, Carl Jacobsens Vej 35, 2500 Valby Copenhagen

Admission: Free

Presentations from the seminar:

Agenda 12th of June 2019

• On the Nordic Capacity Calculation Methodology and the Flow-Based capacity calculation – Pieter Schavemaker, E-bridge consulting
• Mitigating measures to reduce reductions in cross-border capacities due to the Swedish West-Coast cut – Erik Ek, Svenska Kraftnät
• Illogical cross border flows – Idar Gimmestad, Statnett

Nordic TSOs quarterly cross zonal capacity report

Key takeaways

 

The Nordic energy regulators take note of a high risk of a delay in the implementation of the 15 minute imbalance settlement period in the Nordics, and urge the TSOs to continue to strive to avoid delays and to present an ambitious and realistic implementation plan as soon as possible.

On the 14 of March 2019, the Nordic Transmission System Operators (TSO) issued a joint press release on the implementation of the 15 minutes imbalance settlement period, part of the so-called Nordic Balancing Model (NBM).

The press release reads that there is a high risk of delay in implementing a 15 minutes imbalance settlement period (ISP) by December 2020.  Moreover, the Nordic TSOs commit themselves to an enhanced stakeholder involvement in the NBM implementation.

The Nordic energy regulators welcome the commitment by the Nordic TSOs to enhance stakeholder involvement in the NBM implementation, i.a. through a Nordic TSO stakeholder workshop in April.

The Nordic energy regulators support a 15 minutes ISP, as it is a key factor in enabling a more efficient system operation, an efficient integration of renewables and a closer market integration with the rest of Europe.

The Nordic energy regulators issued a press release to this effect on 19 December 2018 expecting a coordinated move to 15 minutes ISP by 18 December 2020 and highlighting the close dialogue between the regulators and the Nordic TSOs to meet this ambition.

The Nordic energy regulators note that the Nordic TSOs now see a high risk of a delay in meeting the 18 December 2020 deadline for a 15 minutes ISP. The deadline stems from the EU Regulation 2017/2195 establishing a guideline on electricity balancing (EBGL).

A delay in the implementation of 15 minute ISP is subject to a formal procedure set in the EBGL for both TSOs and NRAs to follow if TSOs, either jointly or individually, would request a regulatory approval of a delay. The Nordic energy regulators underline the importance of a coordinated and joint Nordic implementation of 15 minute ISP. So far, the Nordic TSOs have not filed a request.

The Nordic energy regulators urge the Nordic TSOs to continue to strive for implementing the ISP without extending the deadline and to present an ambitions and realistic implementation plan as soon as possible. The Nordic energy regulators encourage the Nordic TSOs to consult with stakeholders and thus to draw on their insight when drafting such an implementation plan; the implementation will not least affect stakeholders in terms of investments, IT-development etc.

The Nordic energy regulators thus will continue the close dialogue with the Nordic TSOs on a coordinated implementation of a 15 minutes ISP, as delays or lack of coordination might diminish the benefits of the 15 minutes ISP.

Background

The requirement to implement the 15 minutes ISP stems from EBGL article 53.

EBGL article 62 sets out the conditions to derogate from the deadline in article 53.

• Read the EU Regulation 2017/2195 establishing a guideline on electricity balancing (EBGL).
• Read the press release from the Nordic TSOs

Contact

NVE – Stian Henriksen (sthe@nve.no)

EV – Jarno Lamponen (Jarno.Lamponen@energiavirasto.fi)

Ei – Elin Larsson (elin.larsson@ei.se)

DUR – Peter Christian Olsen (pco@forsyningstilsynet.dk)

 

This consultation concerns a joint proposal from the nominated electricity market operators in the Nordic region on clearing and settlement arrangements according to Article77 (2) of the Commission Regulation (EU) No 2015/1222 of 24 July 2015 establishing a Guideline on Capacity Allocation and Congestion Management (CACM).

NordREG welcomes written input on the proposal before the 22nd of March 2019. Comments (in English) can be sent to registrator@ei.se. Please mark your answers to the consultation with the following reference number 2018-101724.

• Clearing Settlement Principles for Nordic NRAs

Contact persons in NordREG

Linda Weman Tell, Ei
linda.weman.tell@ei.se

Malene Alempiew, DUR
mua@forsyningstilsynet.dk

Mari Salo, EV
mari.salo@energiavirasto.fi

Helena Lindstad Mellison, NVE
hem@nve.no

The Nordic national regulatory authorities (“Nordic NRAs”) are launching a consultation on the methodology for capacity calculation in the long-term timeframe developed by all TSOs in the Nordic capacity calculation region in accordance with Article 10 of Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1719 of 26 September 2016 establishing a guideline forward capacity allocation (“FCA Regulation”).

• Methodology for capacity calculation
• Explanatory document

The Nordic NRAs will assess and evaluate the proposal for approval within a period of 6 months or request changes to the proposal before the proposal can be approved.

The Nordic NRAs welcome written input on the methodology at the latest 18th of February 2019. Comments shall be sent to post@forsyningstilsynet.dk with copy to slrs@forsyningstilsynet.dk. Please mark your answers to the consultation with the following reference: Nordic Capacity Calculation Methodology.

Contact persons in NordREG:

Toril Naustvoll, NVE
tna@nve.no

Jori Säntti, EV
jori.santti@energiavirasto.fi

Daniel Frisö, Ei
daniel.friso@ei.se

Søren Lorenz Søndergaard, DUR
slrs@forsyningstilsynet.dk

The Nordic energy regulators supports the move to a 15 minutes ISP, as it amongst others is expected to enable a more efficient system operation, efficient integration of renewables and a closer market integration with the rest of Europe. The Nordic NRAs expect a coordinated move to 15 minutes ISP by 18 December 2020 and are in close dialogue with the Nordic TSOs to meet this ambition.

EU Regulation 2017/2195 establishing a guideline on electricity balancing (EBGL) requires a move from the current 60 minutes imbalance settlement period (ISP) to 15 minutes ISP by 18 December 2020. A National Regulatory Authority (NRA) can decide to derogate the implementation of the 15 minutes ISP until 2025, either at its own initiative or upon request by a Transmission System Operator (TSO).

The Nordic NRAs (Danish Utility Regulator, the Finnish Energy Authority, the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, and the Swedish Energy Markets Inspectorate) have so far not received a request for a derogation from their respective TSOs. Further, the Nordic NRAs have at this point in time not identified any decisive reasons to derogate and to delay the implementation of the 15 minute ISP later than 18 December 2020.

The Nordic NRAs are in close dialogue with the Nordic TSOs, with a view to identify and handle any national or regional challenges in order to meet the ambition of a coordinated implementation of a 15 minutes ISP by 18 December 2020.

Background

The requirement to implement the 15 minutes ISP stems from EBGL article 53.

EBGL article 62 sets out the conditions to derogate from the deadline in article 53.

• Read the EU Regulation 2017/2195 establishing a guideline on electricity balancing (EBGL).

Contact

NVE – Henriksen Stian (sthe@nve.no)

EV – Lamponen Jarno (Jarno.Lamponen@energiavirasto.fi)

Ei – Erik Blomqvist (erik.blomqvist@ei.se)

DUR – Peter Christian Olsen (PCO@forsyningstilsynet.dk)

24 October 2018 Nordic national regulaors (NRAs) met in Oslo to discuss monitoring of the Nordic retail markets. National cases were presented, and the overall conclusion was that NRAs faces similar challenges and therefore can benefit from sharing experience with each other.

This was the second annual workshop arranged by NordREG´s Retail Market Working Group (RMWG). Based on the discussions at the workshop RMWG today has published the following conclusions:

Independent price comparison tools

In all the Nordic countries there are new functions added to the NRAs price comparison tools (PCTs). The added functionality has the purpose to make it easier for consumers to be well informed and make better choices when choosing an electricity price contract. Examples of functionality is warning signs on suppliers, hourly price contracts, integration between PCT and datahub, filter to stop introduction offers.

• It is important that NordREG exchange information regarding PCTs and coordinates new functionalities more effectively, so all Nordic consumers can make better choices.

Suppliers with cross-border activities

Business practices by one supplier´s different subsidiaries are a problem in Sweden, Norway and Finland. The NRAs often monitor their activities due to many customer complaints.

• It is important that NordREG exchange experience in order to map activities for suppliers with many complaints that also have cross-border activities.

Unbundling

Customers often have a problem separating the DSO from the integrated supplier. In Denmark and Norway companies are obligated to change name of one of the companies so that they are clearly seen as separate companies.

• All NordREG NRAs should consider activities that promotes unbundling and coordinate similar activities within the Nordic region.

Information on the bill

When adding information to the customer’s bill one must consider that to much information will make the customer disregard all the information due to overload. In Finland some mandatory information has been removed to address this problem.

• When the Clean Energy Package is implemented NordREG should discuss how mandatory information on bills could be handled. In this discussion the result from the Customer Survey 2018 should also be considered.

Spot-based price contracts

When thinking of spot-based product it’s easy to think price contracts based on hourly prices on NordPool. But there are other products that use weighted average monthly price that is calculated by multiplying a load profile with the corresponding hourly prices from NordPool.

• NordREG should discuss if it is possible to find a joint definition of what a dynamic price contract is.

Bundled products

In both Denmark and Norway, it’s common for electricity suppliers to sell bundled products with offers including for example mobile phone contracts, discounts, online help with homework.

• The Nordic NRAs should follow the development of bundled products in each of the Nordic retail markets.

New ways of monitoring market efficiency

By developing new market indicators, the NRAs can keep track on the market more effectively and give better recommendations on legislative changes.

• NordREG should discuss and investigate if NVE´s work 2018 on measuring market efficiency could be used as a template for best practice in the Nordic region?