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?

A survey recently conducted in the Nordic countries shows that most household customers know that they can switch electricity supplier. At the same time, the survey shows that many customers are inactive. The main reason for inactivity is often that the saving potential is considered too small.

Below are some of the findings from the web survey conducted in September 2018 among a representative sample of 6,000 Nordic electricity customers; 1,500 respondents from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. All respondents participate in the decision-making regarding the electricity contract in their household.

The survey shows that 26 per cent of electricity customers have been active and signed an electricity contract in the past year. On top of that, 16 per cent have compared contracts in the past year without switching and are so-called aware customers. 58 per cent have neither switched nor compared contracts in the past year or more, and are, hence, considered ‘inactive’ customers.

The share of active customers is highest in Finland. Norway and Finland have the highest shares of aware customers. The Danish customers are the most inactive ones.

Amongst those that have neither signed nor compared electricity contracts the last year (so-called inactive customers), the most common reasons given for not switching/comparing are satisfaction with current contract and small financial gains.

All in all, Danish customers differ from the other Nordic customers. They use less electricity; have a lower level of activity in the electricity market; have less knowledge both of terms of contracts, the market players and price comparison tools; they also have less confidence in the electricity market. Finnish and Swedish customers are similar when it comes to consumption, activity level and reasons for (not) switching/comparing contracts. Norwegian customers stand out, with a much higher consumption of electricity, compared to others. In addition, Norwegian customers find the switching process somewhat easier than the other customers in the survey.

Active customers spend the least on electricity, have the best knowledge of the electricity market and find it the easiest to switch contracts. In addition, they regularly compare contracts. Inactive customers are characterized not only by rarely switching and comparing contracts, but also by knowing the least about their electricity consumption.  They have the poorest knowledge of the electricity market as such, as well as their own terms of contract, are the ones that read the least of the information on their bill compared to the rest of the respondents and find it most difficult to switch contracts.

When it comes to gender and age differences, these can be summed up as follows. Men are somewhat more active electricity customers than women; they more often compare contracts, initiate new contracts themselves, know more about both the electricity market and their contractual terms, read more of the information on the bill and find the switching process easier. However, compared to men, women deem it more important to have a green contract, and prefer more strongly that they receive a combined bill rather than receiving two separate bills from their grid company and supplier. Younger electricity customers have the poorest knowledge of the electricity market and their own contractual terms, find it more difficult to sign contracts and are the ones that read the least of the information on their bill.

The Nordic energy regulators (NordREG) will now analyze the results of the survey and use it as one of many inputs when the retail markets in the Nordic region are developed further.

For more information please contact:

Mattias Johansson, Retail Market Expert at Energimarknadsinspektionen and Chair of NordREG Retail Market Working Group, +46 16 16 27 42
Søren Brandt Clausen, Forsyningstilsynet,+45 4171 5381
Patrick Malén, Legal Adviser at Energiavirasto, +358 5050 126
Stian Andre Staurvik Skaalbones, Adviser at Norges vassdrags- og energidirektorat, +47  22 95 90 29

Read the main report “Nordic Customer Survey 2018 – Consumer behavior in the Nordic electricity market”.

• Nordic Customer Survey 2018
• Nordic Customer Survey 2018, Annex 1, Total tables report

NordREG would like to invite you to a meeting on the TSOs current practice of calculation of Cross Border Capacities in the Nordic region. The meeting is on the 25th of October 2018 at Stockholm Arlanda airport.

The meeting is arranged by NordREG in cooperation with the Nordic TSOs as an initiative towards a joint Nordic monitoring and increased transparency of cross border capacities by supplementing the existing reporting structures.

• Read more about this initiative in NordREG’s press release here.

Main topics are:

• Current capacity calculation practice, including explanations and justification
• Increased transparency through additional reporting structures of TSOs calculated cross border capacities

NordREG invites stakeholders to present their view on the topic by presenting prepared messages in the introductory part of the meeting and by active participation in discussions.

Stakeholders that would like to present a prepared message are requested to announce that when they sign up for the meeting or at the latest by the 8th of October.

Target group: All interested parties.

When: the 25th of October 2018, 9:30–15:30.

Where: Radisson Blu Sky City Stockholm-Arlanda.

Admission: Free.

Registration: Please sign up for the meeting before October 15 through e-mail internationella@ei.se.

Please state full name, organization and advise us of any dietary requirements you may have.

Program: Agenda 25 October

Presentations

• TSO’s initiatives to increase transparency
• Svenska kraftnät
• Statnett
• Fingrid
• Energinet.dk
• Examples of hourly data and price differences in the Nordics
• Dansk Energi questions for SvK on West Coast Corridor – NordReg workshop 3.0
• Dansk Energi message
• Orsted

At the start of September the NordREG Board met to sign a revised Memorandum of understanding (MoU) and approve a new vision.
The first MoU on the cooperation between the Nordic national energy regulators was signed in 2002 and was last amended in 2006.

On the 4th of September 2018 the director generals of the Nordic NRA’s met in Stockholm to sign a revised MoU.

–  The signing of the MoU is an important step for the current ongoing deepened strategic work within NordREG, says Karin Tvingsjö, chair of NordREG’s Strategy group.

Together with the signing of the MoU a new vision was also approved by NordREG Board. The new NordREG vision is: Actively promoting efficient and advanced energy markets, for the benefit of consumers towards a decarbonized society.

The vision outlines the direction for the Nordic regulatory cooperation. NordREG’s logo has also been updated with the slogan NordREG – Power through cooperation.

This consultation concerns a common request for amendment developed by the Nordic Transmission System Operators regarding the arrangements concerning more than one NEMO in a bidding zone in accordance with Article 45 and 57 of the Commission Regulation (EU) No 2015/1222 of 24 July 2015 establishing a Guideline on Capacity Allocation and Congestion Management (CACM).

The approval of the TSOs request is a task for each individual energy regulator. However, as the Nordic TSOs have developed a common request and the Nordic energy regulators are working closely on this matter, a NordREG consultation will be held.

NordREG welcomes written input on the proposed request for amendment within the 31st of August 2018. Comments (in English) can be sent to registrator@ei.se. Please mark your answers to the consultation with the following reference number 2018-101723.

• Nordic TSOs request for amendment on multiple NEMO arrangements
• Explanatory document concerning the Nordic TSOs’ request for amendments

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

Today NordREG published a report that describes the status of the ongoing implementation of data hubs in the Nordic region. In the first half of the 2021 all Nordic countries will have data hubs in place that handle all communication between suppliers and DSOs.

NordREG believe that a successful implementation of data hubs and the ability for those data hubs to interact is an important key for a harmonised Nordic retail market for electricity.

The Danish data hub is fully implemented. The Norwegian data hub is scheduled to go live in February 2019. According to the national TSOs in Finland and Sweden the Finnish data hub is scheduled to go live in spring 2021 and the Swedish data hub in the beginning of 2021.

• NordREG Status report on datahubs – June 2018