Public consultation: Evaluation of the European Agency for the Cooperation of the Energy Regulator (ACER) (18.09.2013)

The European Commission opened on 18 June 2013 a public consultation on the working methods and results achieved so far by the European Agency for the Cooperation of the Energy Regulator (ACER), established in accordance with Regulation (EC) 713/2009 of 13 July 2009.

ACER was officially established in March 2011 and has its headquarters in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

The background for the public consultation is further defined in the Commission's text for the public consultation:

The Agency was established in order to fill in the regulatory gap, with the purpose to assist national regulatory authorities, and, if necessary to coordinate their actions, in order to enhance their cooperation at the EU level. ACER plays a central role in the development of EU-wide network and market rules with a view to create a single Internal Energy Market. It coordinates regional and cross-regional initiatives which favor market integration. The Agency monitors the work of European networks of transmission system operators (ENTSOs) and notably their EU-wide network development plans. Finally ACER monitors the functioning of gas and electricity markets in general, and wholesale energy trading in particular. This last task had been added by the Regulation (EU) No 1227/2011 on Wholesale Energy Market Integrity and Transparency ("REMIT"). There are also additional tasks envisaged for ACER in the recently adopted Regulation on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure ("EIP").

Article 34 of Regulation 713/2009 requires the Commission to carry out an evaluation of the activities of the Agency. The evaluation shall cover the results achieved by the Agency and its working methods, in relation with its objective, mandate and tasks defined in Regulation 713/2009 and in the Agency's annual work programs. The evaluation shall be based on extensive consultation. The Commission shall submit this evaluation to the Agency's Board of Regulators. The Board of Regulators shall then issue recommendations to the Commission regarding the changes to the Regulation 713/2009, the Agency and its working methods. The Commission, in turn can forward those recommendations, together with its own opinion as well as any appropriate proposal, to the European Parliament and the Council.

ACER website: http://www.acer.europa.eu

Website of the public consultation: here

Consultation period: from 18 June to 18 September 2013.