KEY ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR - February 2008

General Issues

• Made good progress in terms of shifting from action plans and consultation work to a practical implementation of the priorities that have been identified.
• Refined priorities in line with the findings of the last stakeholder group meeting in Maribor.
• Placed responsibility for implementation on TSOs and market participants, in particular members of the implementation task forces, not only members of the RCC.
• Good involvement of work in the region. Excellent attendance rates at the last implementation group meeting in Prague, January 2008

Priority I

Best-practice standardised bulletin board

• Started work on standardised trading platforms for transmission capacity on all major transmission systems of the region, which is expected to facilitate secondary market trading for shippers.
• Aim: A harmonized content for individual TSO platforms according to examples provided by TAG as ‘best practice’. The platforms are expected to be ready by end of 2007.
• Responsibility for implementation: TSOs, TSOs to provide a paper on the requirements for such a platform, further implementation has already happened, greater harmonisation sought (contents, design).
• Update to be given at the next SG meeting in June 2008

Priority II

Summary of planned investments in the region (incl. storage)

• Started work in the summary of planned investments in the region which shall identify future bottlenecks and help improving congestion management.
• Based on questionnaire to TSOs, SSOs and NRAs, a first analysis of responses has been carried out
• Aim: To include information on expansion projects (Transmission & Storage) into the survey as well, cross-check with eg GSE database.
• Responsibility for data analysis: RCC.
• Next steps: Further work needed, data availability issue, key question: How can a genuine regional investemente planning process be implemented?
• Presentation of update at the next SG meeting in June 2008

Priority III

Removing remaining obstacles to implementation of interconnection point agreements (IPA)/ operational balancing agreements (OBA)

• Started work on removing obstacles to the implementation of IPA/OBA.
• Involved stakeholders work on a solution for the implementation of an OBA at Baumgarten including a list of remaining obstacles.
• Progress made in some areas, w.r.t. the CEGH, further work need to be done
• For the Hub Baumgarten, CEGH has circulated draft agreements
• Affected TSOs to coordinate a meeting to discuss potential obstacles
• Responsibility: TSOs, shippers; CEGH to provide an update at the next SG meeting in June 2008

Priority IV

Best practiceprovision of one-stop-shop (OSS) service

• Worked in ensuring market integration via simplification how gas can be shipped both within the region and across the region; role model for the whole of the EU.
• Agreed with TSOs that they will provide with services on request of shippers for the whole transportation route and/or at certain interconnection points.
• Aim: TSOs offer OSS service to shippers who request it, cross-reference to transparency platform
• Underlying theoretical idea: Greater TSO cooperation, eg. via the establishment of a Regional ISO (cf. EFET paper)
• EFET has circualated a paper on the issue, a consultation period is not under way
• Update to be given at the next SG meeting in June 2008

Priority V

Regional entry exit tariff system (REETS)

• Started work on a simulation of regional entry-exit tariff system and its impacts.
• Working on promotion of a more cost reflective transportation pricing systems and easier market access for new shippers through a regional entry exit tariff system; role model for the whole of the EU.
• Presentation of benchmarking results and simulation of introduction of REETS at the IG meeting in Maribor.
• A theoretical paper on the underlying assumptions regarding the implementation of an REETS is now in consultation and all stakeholders are invited to comment
• Responsibility: RCC, update at the next SG meeting in June 2008

Priority VI

Hub development as regional balancing market

• Worked on further developing the hubs to fully functioning, liquid market places, eg by introducing back up/ back down services, day ahead products, and web-based nominations and other things.
• Overall aim: To develop hub(s) to be regional balancing points.
• Progress made:
  - PSV: progess along the identified timetable
  - CEGH: focus on conclusion of IPA/OBA 
• Next steps: Update on implementation on an ongoing basis (CEGH) and at the next SG meeting (CEGH/PSV)
• Responsibility: CEGH, IBP TF (Aiget, EFET, Eurelectric); presentation at next the next SG meeting in June 2008