Transport tariff rules for gas transmission system operators in the single German market area
Year of issue 2020
Date of issue 2020.09.11
The Bundesnetzagentur has set out rules for the tariff methodology to be used by gas transmission system operators in the single German market area, Trading Hub Europe, as of 1 October 2021.
"This comprehensive package of determinations lays down fair, transparent and predictable ground rules for players on the German gas market,"
said Jochen Homann, Bundesnetzagentur President.
Three decisions governing tariffs
The "REGENT 2021" decision determines, in particular, that German transmission system operators must set a uniform tariff for any transport service (known as the postage stamp method). The divergences that will necessarily arise between costs and revenues will be corrected by a compensation mechanism stipulated in the "AMELIE 2021" determination. Finally, the "MARGIT 2021" determination specifies price premiums for non-yearly transport products and discounts for interruptible transport products.
Merger of the market areas
The determinations were triggered by the upcoming merger of the two German market areas into one, Germany-wide market area, which is planned for 1 October 2021. The tariff methodology rules had to be adjusted in light of the future framework. The determinations are based on the European network code on harmonised transmission tariff structures for gas, which requires the Bundesnetzagentur to decide on uniform standards for tariff-setting that apply to all transmission system operators. This was done initially in 2019, but the market area merger made it necessary for new determinations to be issued.
The authority had to weigh up the legitimate interests of shippers, traders in Germany, network operators and, not least, german gas customers.
The ruling chamber responsible has issued the determinations following a thorough process of consulting all market participants involved, in which the European Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) also played an active role.
The three proceedings (BK9-19/610 – "REGENT 2021", BK9-19/607 – "AMELIE 2021" and BK9-19/612 – "MARGIT 2021") have been published on the Bundesnetzagentur website (in German, English to follow).