On Friday (24.02.2023) the changes to Ordinance 3 on licensing of the activities in the energy sector were published. Also at the beginning of February the amendments to the Energy Act came into force. The changes regulate the work of new market participants, increase the installed capacity of manufacturers subject to licensing, account for the organization of a market for guarantees of origin and others. A brief description of the more important changes in the two regulations is provided below:
Changes to the Energy Act, promulgated in the State Gazette number 11 of 02.02.2023.
- Introduction of the concept of electricity storage and provisions for access to the network of electricity storage facilities. No license is required for the activity of electricity storage, unless it relates to a stand-alone facility, in which case an electricity trading license is required. The operators of the electricity transmission or distribution networks are not allowed to own, develop, operate or manage electricity storage facilities. Transactions with operators of electricity storage facilities commissioned after 01.02.2023 can be concluded outside the IBEX.
- Power producers with a capacity of up to 20 MW are no longer subject to licensing. The existing, issued licenses for this type of producers are canceled.
- IBEX is designated to organize an exchange market for guarantees of origin till the end of the year
- ESO (local TSO) should provide weekly the final results of the application of the methodology for calculating and determining the prices of balancing energy for each settlement period.
- An electricity storage facility operators and producers with a remote metering per settlement period may request from the network operator permanent access to the metering data.
Changes in the licensing ordinance were promulgated in the State Gazette number 18 of 24.02.2023.
- Licensing process of new type of market participants – operators of closed electricity and gas distribution networks
- If a license holder (including electricity trading license) meets the requirements for a balancing group coordinator, the corresponding license contains the rights and obligations related to the activities of a balancing group coordinator.
- Easing the application process for issuing electricity and gas trading licenses. The provision of a business plan and evidence of personnel and their qualifications are no longer required to obtain an electricity or gas trading license.
- Changes will be made in the methodology for connecting customers and producers to the transmission and distribution networks.
