ELECTRICITY NETWORKS

for electricity networks:

in electricity networks, to:

for both electricity and gas networks:

Electricity grid system and tariff issues

Connection of isolated electricity networks to European interconnected networks

any mechanisms to deal with congested capacity within the national electricity system;

Whereas there is increasing trade in electricity each year between high-voltage electricity grids in Europe;

In the longer term, technological developments may lead to other local loop access mechanisms being viable, such as energy networks:

the transmission system operator shall have effective decision-making rights, independent from the integrated electricity undertaking, with respect to assets necessary to operate, maintain or develop the network.

the distribution system operator shall have effective decision-making rights, independent from the integrated electricity undertaking, with respect to assets necessary to operate, maintain or develop the network.

the combined system operator shall have effective decision-making rights, independent from the integrated electricity undertaking, with respect to assets necessary to operate, maintain and develop the network.

Development of electricity interconnections with third countries in Europe and the Mediterranean region helping to improve the reliability, security and supply of Community electricity networks

Rules adopted by transmission system operators for balancing the electricity system shall be objective, transparent and non-discriminatory, including rules for the charging of system users of their networks for energy imbalance.

Member States may decide not to apply paragraphs 1 and 2 to integrated electricity undertakings serving less than 100000 connected customers, or serving small isolated systems.

"back-up electricity" shall mean the electricity supplied through the electricity grid whenever the cogeneration process is disrupted, including maintenance periods, or out of order;

When planning the development of the distribution network, energy efficiency/demand-side management measures and/or distributed generation that might supplant the need to upgrade or replace electricity capacity shall be considered by the distribution system operator.

"top-up electricity" shall mean the electricity supplied through the electricity grid in cases where the electricity demand is greater than the electrical output of the cogeneration process;

Whereas the exchange of electricity between electricity grids which is based on contracts with a minimum duration of one year is so great that requests for transactions and their consequences should be systematically known to the Commission;

those persons responsible for the management of the combined system operator may not participate in company structures of the integrated electricity undertaking responsible, directly or indirectly, for the day-to-day operation of the generation, or supply of electricity;

Whereas, owing to the diversity of structures and the special characteristics of systems in Member States, there should be different options for system access operating in accordance with objective, transparent and non-discriminatory criteria;

those persons responsible for the management of the transmission system operator may not participate in company structures of the integrated electricity undertaking responsible, directly or indirectly, for the day-to-day operation of the generation, distribution and supply of electricity;

those persons responsible for the management of the distribution system operator may not participate in company structures of the integrated electricity undertaking responsible, directly or indirectly, for the day-to-day operation of the generation, transmission or supply of electricity;

transmission is carried out by the entity or entities responsible in each Member State for a high-voltage electricity grid, with the exception of distribution grids, in a Member State's territory which contributes to the efficient operation of European high-voltage interconnections;

To that end, the transmission system operator shall be responsible for ensuring a secure, reliable and efficient electricity system and, in that context, for ensuring the availability of all necessary ancillary services insofar as this availability is independent from any other transmission system with which its system is interconnected;

Whereas the establishment of an internal electricity market will stimulate the dynamic process of better integration of national electricity grids, and whereas in this context special infrastructure measures and programmes should therfore be implemented to accelerate the efficient and socially advantageous linking-up of outlying areas and islands in the Community to the interconnected grid;