Amendments to Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 on conditions for access to the natural gas transmission networks have been published in today's the Official Journal of the European Union, in the form of a Commission Decision.
The Decision amends Chapter 3 of Annex I to the Regulation, by detailing further transparency requirements in the access regime to the transportation system. As its title indicates, Chapter 3 relates precisely to:
- the definition of the technical information necessary for network users to gain effective access to the system;
- the definition of all relevant points for transparency requirements; and
- the information to be published at all relevant points and the time schedule according to which this information shall be published.
In short, it details the list of information about systems and services Transmission system operators (TSOs) must provide to those seeking access (points 3.1.2, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4) and the form of the publication (point 3.1.1). Those additional requirements contribute to the reinforcement of transparency on the natural gas transportation market. The ultimate goal consists in ensuring effective access to the transportation systems and providing a minimim guarantee of equal market access conditions in practice, in other words reinforcing competition on these markets.
References: Commission Decision 2010/685/EU of 10 November 2010 amending Chapter 3 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No. 715/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on conditions for access to the natural gas transmission networks, OJ L 293 of 11.11.2010, p.67.
Comments