According to the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2019/943 new targets and measures are established for the efficient operation of the electricity markets. One of the measures provided for in Article 16 of the Regulation requires Transmission System Operators (TSOs) to offer 70% of interconnection capacity on the borders of EU-Member States for cross zonal trade (so called Margin Available for Cross-Zonal Trade, “MACZT” or “minimum 70% target”). This obligation on the TSOs applies as of January 1st, 2020.
Upon request of the TSOs, according to the provisions of Article 16(9) of the Regulation, the National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) may grant a derogation from the provision of the minimum level of capacity, on foreseeable grounds where necessary, for maintaining operational security. In the case of the border between Greece and Bulgaria, the Regulatory Authority has granted a derogation to IPTO for the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 for the reasons analytically presented in the relevant decisions. For the border between Greece and Italy, there has been no need for granting a relevant derogation to the TSO since the full thermal capacity (500 MW) of the GR-IT interconnection (DC link) is usually offered to the market, complying this way with the minimum 70% target.
In July of 2019, ACER issued Recommendation 01/2019 detailing a methodology for the computation of the level of cross-zonal capacity to be made available for cross-zonal trade. Based on the criteria included in the Recommendation, ACER has published two reports on the result of monitoring the margin available for cross-zonal electricity trade in the EU in the years 2020 (part a and b) and 2021, respectively, and pointing out whether this is consistent or not with the 70% requirement. According to the provisions of Article 59 of Directive (EU) 2019/944 the effective compliance of each TSO with the 70% rule is the responsibility of the competent NRA.
To this effect, IPTO has submitted to RAEWW its report on monitoring the margin of capacity available for cross-zonal trade for 2021 at the bidding zone borders of Greece with other EU-Member States (Italy and Bulgaria), based on computational results provided by ACER. After careful evaluation, RAEWW considered that the above-mentioned report for 2021 is sufficient for monitoring the level of capacity available for cross-zonal trade at the bidding zone borders of Greece-Bulgaria and Greece-Italy and for the effective compliance of IPTO with the 70% rule and approved the relevant report.
Attached file:
1) IPTO’s report on monitoring the margin of capacity available for cross-zonal trade for 2021
