GUIDELINES ON
1. Third-party access services concerning transmission system operators
1. Transmission system operators shall offer firm and interruptible services down to a minimum period of one day.
2. Harmonised transport contracts and common network codes shall be designed in a manner that facilitates trading and
re-utilisation of capacity contracted by network users without hampering capacity release.
3. Transmission system operators shall develop network codes and harmonised contracts following proper consultation
with network users.
4. Transmission system operators shall implement standardised nomination and re-nomination procedures. They shall
develop information systems and electronic communication means to provide adequate data to network users and to
simplify transactions, such as nominations, capacity contracting and transfer of capacity rights between network users.
5. Transmission system operators shall harmonise formalised request procedures and response times according to best
industry practice with the aim of minimising response times. They shall provide for online screen-based capacity book
ing and confirmation systems and nomination and re-nomination procedures no later than 1 July 2006 after consul
tation with the relevant network users.
6. Transmission system operators shall not separately charge network users for information requests and transactions
associated with their transport contracts and which are carried out according to standard rules and procedures.
7. Information requests that require extraordinary or excessive expenses such as feasibility studies may be charged sepa
rately, provided the charges can be duly substantiated.
8. Transmission system operators shall cooperate with other transmission system operators in coordinating the mainte
nance of their respective networks in order to minimise any disruption of transmission services to network users and
transmission system operators in other areas and in order to ensure equal benefits with respect to security of supply
including in relation to transit.
9. Transmission system operators shall publish at least annually, by a predetermined deadline, all planned maintenance
periods that might affect network users’ rights from transport contracts and corresponding operational information
with adequate advance notice. This shall include publishing on a prompt and non-discriminatory basis any changes to
planned maintenance periods and notification of unplanned maintenance, as soon as that information becomes avail
able to the transmission system operator. During maintenance periods, transmission system operators shall publish
regularly updated information on the details of and expected duration and effect of the maintenance.
10. Transmission system operators shall maintain and make available to the competent authority upon request a daily log
of the actual maintenance and flow disruptions that have occurred. Information shall also be made available on request
to those affected by any disruption.
2. Principles of capacity-allocation mechanisms and congestion-management procedures concerning transmis
sion system operators and their application in the event of contractual congestion
2.1. Principles of capacity-allocation mechanisms and congestion-management procedures concerning transmission system operators
1. Capacity-allocation mechanisms and congestion-management procedures shall facilitate the development of compe
tition and liquid trading of capacity and shall be compatible with market mechanisms including spot markets and trad
ing hubs. They shall be flexible and capable of adapting to evolving market circumstances.
2. Those mechanisms and procedures shall take into account the integrity of the system concerned as well as security of
supply.
3. Those mechanisms and procedures shall neither hamper the entry of new market participants nor create undue bar
riers to market entry. They shall not prevent market participants, including new market entrants and companies with
a small market share, from competing effectively.
4. Those mechanisms and procedures shall provide appropriate economic signals for efficient and maximum use of tech
nical capacity and facilitate investment in new infrastructure.
5. Network users shall be advised about the type of circumstance that could affect the availability of contracted capacity.
Information on interruption should reflect the level of information available to the transmission system operator.
6. Should difficulties in meeting contractual delivery obligations arise due to system integrity reasons, transmission sys
tem operators should notify network users and seek a non-discriminatory solution without delay.
Transmission system operators shall consult network users regarding procedures prior to their implementation and
agree them with the regulatory authority.
2.2. Congestion-management procedures in the event of contractual congestion
1. In the event that contracted capacity goes unused, transmission system operators shall make that capacity available on
the primary market on an interruptible basis via contracts of differing duration, as long as that capacity is not offered
by the relevant network user on the secondary market at a reasonable price.
2. Revenues from released interruptible capacity shall be split according to rules laid down or approved by the relevant
regulatory authority. Those rules shall be compatible with the requirement of an effective and efficient use of the
system.
3. A reasonable price for released interruptible capacity may be determined by the relevant regulatory authorities taking
into account the specific circumstances prevailing.
4. Where appropriate, transmission system operators shall make reasonable endeavours to offer at least parts of the
unused capacity to the market as firm capacity.
3. 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 that information shall be published
3.1. Definition of the technical information necessary for network users to gain effective access to the system
Transmission system operators shall publish at least the following information about their systems and services:
(a) a detailed and comprehensive description of the different services offered and their charges;
(b) the different types of transport contracts available for those services and, as applicable, the network code and/or
the standard conditions outlining the rights and responsibilities of all network users including harmonised trans
port contracts and other relevant documents;
(c) the harmonised procedures applied when using the transmission system, including the definition of key terms;
(d) provisions on capacity allocation, congestion management, and anti-hoarding and re-utilisation procedures;
(e) the rules applicable to capacity trade on the secondary market as regards the transmission system operator;
(f) if applicable, the flexibility and tolerance levels included in transport and other services without separate charge,
as well as any flexibility offered in addition thereto and the corresponding charges;
(g) a detailed description of the gas system of the transmission system operator indicating all relevant points inter
connecting its system with that of other transmission system operators and/or gas infrastructure such as lique
fied natural gas (LNG) and infrastructure necessary for providing ancillary services as defined by Article 2 point 14
of Directive 2009/73/EC;
(h) information on gas quality and pressure requirements;
(i) the rules applicable for connection to the system operated by the transmission system operator;
(j) any information, in a timely manner, as regards proposed and/or actual changes to the services or conditions,
including the items listed in points (a) to (i).
3.2. Definition of all relevant points for transparency requirements
Relevant points shall include at least:
(a) all entry points to a network operated by a transmission system operator;
(b) the most important exit points and exit zones covering at least 50 % of total exit capacity of the network of a
given transmission system operator, including all exit points or exit zones covering more than 2 % of total exit
capacity of the network;
(c) all points connecting different networks of transmission system operators;
(d) all points connecting the network of a transmission system operator with an LNG terminal;
(e) all essential points within the network of a given transmission system operator including points connecting to
gas hubs. All points are considered essential which, based on experience, are likely to experience physical
congestion;
(f) all points connecting the network of a given transmission system operator to infrastructure necessary for pro
viding ancillary services as defined by Article 2, point 14 of Directive 2009/73/EC.
3.3. Information to be published at all relevant points and the time schedule according to which that information should be published
1. At all relevant points, transmission system operators shall publish the following information about the capacity situ
ation down to daily periods on the Internet on a regular/rolling basis and in a user-friendly standardised manner:
(a) the maximum technical capacity for flows in both directions;
(b) the total contracted and interruptible capacity; and
(c) the available capacity.
2. For all relevant points, transmission system operators shall publish available capacities for a period of at least 18
months ahead and shall update that information at least every month or more frequently, if new information becomes
available.
3. Transmission system operators shall publish daily updates of availability of short-term services (day-ahead and week-
ahead) based, inter alia, on nominations, prevailing contractual commitments and regular long-term forecasts of avail
able capacities on an annual basis for up to ten years for all relevant points.
4. Transmission system operators shall publish historical maximum and minimum monthly capacity utilisation rates and
annual average flows at all relevant points for the past three years on a rolling basis.
5. Transmission system operators shall keep a daily log of actual aggregated flows for at least three months.
6. Transmission system operators shall keep effective records of all capacity contracts and all other relevant information
in relation to calculating and providing access to available capacities, to which relevant national authorities shall have
access to fulfil their duties.
7. Transmission system operators shall provide user-friendly instruments for calculating tariffs for the services available
and for verifying on-line the capacity available.
8. Where transmission system operators are unable to publish information in accordance with points 1, 3 and 7, they
shall consult their relevant national authorities and set up an action plan for implementation as soon as possible, but
no later than 31 December 2006.
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