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To the surprise of many, Miguel Arias Canete has been
proposed to succeed Günther Oettinger as Commissioner for Climate and
Energy after both portfolios will have been merged. Mr Cañete has a long
history in politics, serving both in the European Parliament and his home
country - as Spain's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Environment,
before running as the People's Party's candidate for the European
Parliamentary elections of 2014. The newly shaped Commission as proposed
by Juncker will also see the creation of an Energy Union which is
supposed to be steered and coordinated by one of the 7 EC designated
Vice-Presidents, Mrs Alenka Batusek, the former Prime Minister of
Slovenia. Her impressive portfolio comprises DGs Energy and Climate,
Transport and Space, Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and
SMEs, Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Regional Policy,
Agriculture and Rural Development, Science and Innovation. As you can see
– the political landscape in Brussels is about to change significantly
while GEODE will continue what it’s best at: make sure our members’ voice
is heard - whoever there’s in charge of energy policy!
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The recently announced new
Commission: The entire college of the Juncker’s Commission - Overview
On 10
September 2014, President of the Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker
unveiled his team for the next European Commission. The new College
will have, as the biggest innovation, 7 Vice-Presidents, six in
addition to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Policy
and Security Policy (Federica Mogherini), each leading a
project team. They will be steering and coordinating the work of a
number of Commissioners in compositions that may change according to
need and as new projects develop over time.
Despite
of many rumours that have been in the air recently, the new merged
portfolio of Climate Action and Energy has gone to the Spanish
politician Miguel Arias Cañete. Cañete has a long history in
politics, serving both in the European Parliament and his home country
- as Spain's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Environment, and ran as
the People's Party's candidate for the European Parliamentary elections
of 2014.
Alenka
Batusek, the
former Prime Minister of Slovenia has been proposed to become one of
seven Vice-Presidents of the new Commission who will be in charge of the
Energy Union and be dealing with a rather impressive portfolio -
DGs Energy and Climate, Transport and Space, Internal Market, Industry,
Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries,
Regional Policy, Agriculture and Rural Development, Science and
Innovation.
There are a few novelties in the structure:
·
First Vice-President – Dutch politician Frans
Timmermans will be the right-hand of the President. This is the first
time that there is a Commissioner dedicated to a Better Regulation
agenda
·
Polish Former Government Minister - Elžbieta
Bieńkowska will be in charge of the new Internal Market,
Industry, Entrepreneurship and SME portfolio that will be the
engine house of the real economy.
·
A strong new Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation
and Customs portfolio was designated to former French Minister of
Finance Pierre Moscovici to ensure that taxation and customs
union policies become part and parcel of a deep and genuine Economic
and Monetary
·
Consumer policy is no longer divided into different portfolios but has
been combined in the portfolio of the Commissioner for Justice,
Consumers and Gender Equality under Czech politician, businesswoman
and lawyer - Věra Jourova
·
There has been created a Commissioner specifically
for Migration under Dimitris Avramopoulos to prioritise a
new policy on migration that will robustly tackle irregular migration,
whilst at the same time making Europe an attractive destination for top
talent.
·
The new Financial Stability, Financial Services and
Capital Markets Union portfolio under Jonathan Hill will
focus on the existing expertise and responsibility in one place
·
Digital Economy & Society portfolio under former Commissioner for Energy, Günther
Oettinger
Competition goes to former Danish Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Economic and Interior Affairs - Margrethe Vestager
·
Research, Science and Innovation portfolio under Portuguese former Secretary of State Carlos
Moedas will have to manage the 80€ billion Horizon 2020 research
and innovation funding programme
In next
step the
European Parliament has to give its consent to the proposed College
Commissioners. This is preceded by hearings of the
Commissioners-designate in the relevant parliamentary committees.
For more
information of the new Commission structure please click here.
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The European Commission: A
new Energy Efficiency Communication released
On 23
July 2014, the European Commission released its long-awaited new
Communication on Energy Efficiency where a new energy efficiency
goal of 30% for 2030 has been proposed. The proposed target goes
beyond the 25% energy savings target which would be required to achieve
a 40% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2030. It also reviews the progress
of its 20 % target for 2020 and further analyses how this can impact the
competitiveness and increase of the security of supply. In general
view, the Commission doesn’t see any need for additional measures to be
taken to achieve the goal, if only all Member States will work
seriously to properly implement the already agreed legislation.
The Communication highlights many benefits that have come as a result of
current energy efficiency policies as well as the EU's drive towards greater
energy efficiency:
·
In accordance to the efficiency requirements, new
buildings consume half as much energy today as they did in the
1980s.
·
Energy intensity in EU industry has decreased by almost 19%
between 2001 and 2011.
·
More efficient appliances like refrigerators and washing machines are
expected to save consumers €100 billion annually – about €465 per
household – on their energy bills by 2020.
·
Member States have committed to rolling out close to 200
million smart meters for electricity and 45 million for gas by 2020,
leading to greater savings for consumers.
·
Between 1995 and 2010, the average specific consumption
of fuel in new cars was more than 2 liters less than it was in
1995.
In the
long-term view, based
on achievements already reached the EU’s new 30% target is expected to
deliver the following benefits, for instance: affordable energy bills
for consumers, new opportunities for European businesses, contribution
to the energy security through a significant reduction of natural gas
imports that expect to fall by 2.6% and a positive impact on the
environment. The new energy efficiency target is also estimated to
create new jobs by 2030.
In next
steps, the European Commission will review progress made in terms of
energy efficiency in 2017.
Please click here for more information.
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ACER's
Presentation of its Conclusions Paper ‘Energy Regulation: A Bridge to 2025’
On 23
September 2014, The Agency of the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER)
presented their “Bridge 2025” Conclusions Paper to high level European
Commission officials and stakeholders in Brussels. The ACER’s Bridge is
the result of extensive public consultation that identifies the
challenges Europe's energy markets will face in the coming decade and
proposes a number of regulatory measures that need to be taken by
regulators, Member States, The European Commission and all energy actors
including consumers.
In the
overall, the paper includes proposals to develop markets that truly
benefit consumers such as the development of toolboxes of good
practices to empower consumers, to regulate distribution system
operators, advice facilitating the phasing out of regulated prices,
and the development of an appropriate framework for the evolution of
the market to include demand-side response.
Regarding
DSOs‘ interest, we would like to highlight the
following recommendations and actions the ACER Bridge 2025 Conclusions
Paper contains:
• to
monitor activities of vertically integrated DSOs to ensure a level
playing field - CEER will assess adequacy of current rules on business
separation against evolving role of DSOs
• to define DSOs functions to facilitate the development of
potentially competitive services
• to ensure market is not foreclosed to new entrants by incumbents -
monopoly DSOs
• to identify and share good practices of distribution network tariffs
In relation
to unbundling: the
Bridge 2025 Conclusions Paper avoids to talk about further or stricter
unbundling as the former draft did and, proposes further measures or
actions instead. CEER will carry out a consultation on the role and
functions of DSOs starting in the coming months.
Other general recommendations in the Paper included:
·
a full implementation of Third Energy Package
·
a fast adoption of NCs
·
a rapid application of electricity and gas target models
·
a greater interaction of electricity and gas markets
·
a greater cooperation between DSOs and TSOs: recommendations
to clarify and distinct roles and responsibilities of TSOs and DSOs
needed
·
to establish common criteria for a well-functioning retail
market - reliable and innovative
to facilitate the development of flexibility markets
·
regulatory arrangements should be developed to facilitate
new uses of gas and removal of barriers to extension of gas distribution
grid
·
to ensure consumers are empowered and properly protected
·
ACER given powers by EC to fulfill its functions more
effectively - to improve the arrangements for regulatory oversight of the
ENTSOs
For more
information, please click here.
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Visit of die Vakka-Suomen
Voima Oy from Finland of Stadtwerke Bietigheim-Bissingen GmbH in
Germany
On 8
August, a delegation from the DSO Vakka-Suomen Voima Oy from
GEODE Member Finnish Energy Industries visited another GEODE Member
from Germany, Stadtwerke -Bietigheim Bissingen located in the South West of Germany and one of the
most modern Stadtwerke in Germany. After a presentation given at the
headquarters the delegation inspected the bio mass plant linked to a
district heating network. We hereby would like to thank Mr Rainer Kübler,
Managing Director of Stadtwerke Bietigheim-Bissingen for having hosted Vakka-Suomen
Voima Oy!
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Visit
of DG ENER Delegation, European Commission, to GEODE Member Göteborg
Energi
On 28 &
29 August, a delegation from European Commission, DG-ENERGY – Jan
Panek and Eerio Ailio, Head and Deputy Head of the Retail Market
Unit, and Manuel Sanchez, Team Leader Smart Grids – visited GEODE
Swedish Member Göteborg Energi. GEODE itself was represented by its
Chairman, Mr Reinhard Brehmer and its Secretary General, Carmen
Gimeno. Mr Andreas Rydbo, Vice President of Göteborg Energi
and Mr Henrik Forsgren were in charge of visit arrangements and
successful organisation. Göteborg Energi, is Western Sweden's leading
energy company that provides customers with energy services, broadband,
district heating, cooling, natural gas and the electricity supply
network. The Commission representatives were shown experiences from a
local DSO after five years of smart metering deployment, the development
of new services, added values, efficient grid operation etc. The guests
were also presented how remote connection of electricity to new tenants
in flats was done in real time, how meters for electricity and district
heating are regularly calibrated in order to measure correctly and also
how Göteborg Energy works to fight energy thefts. It was a very fruitful
exchange of experiences and we are sure the Commission representatives
very much appreciate the quality and innovation of the services Göteborg
Enegi is providing to its customers!
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Workshop on Experiences
after the Roll-Out of Smart Meters in Italy and Sweden
On 9
September, the GEODE representatives Jonas Persson
(Mälarenergi), Per Everhill (Tekniska Verken I Linköping) and Christoph
Larch (Syneco) gave presentations on experiences made in Sweden and
Italy on the roll-out of smart meters to an interested audience of
ASEME members – the Spanish Association of small and medium-sized DSOs
and member of GEODE. In Spain, Smart Meters will be rolled-out within
the next? years and DSOs are keen to know what lessons can be learned -
and what mistakes can be avoided -when looking at the processes other
EU countries have gone through. Please let us know in case you require
further information such as the presentations given at the workshop!
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Please see
the event’s agenda and registration form!
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GEODE
- Avenue Marnix 28 - 1000 Brussels
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EDITORIAL
EUROPE
- The European Commission: The entire college of
the Juncker’s Commission - Overview
- EC Communication on Energy Efficiency
- ACER's Presentation of its Conclusions Paper
‘Energy regulation: A Bridge to 2025’
GEODE
MEMBERS - UPDATE
- Visit of die Vakka-Suomen Voima Oy from Finland
of Stadtwerke Bietigheim-Bissingen GmbH in Germany, Bietigheim Bissingen, 8
August 2014
- Göteborg Energi AB - EC Delegation's visit,
Göteborg, 28-29 August 2014
- Workshop on Experiences after the Roll-Out of
Smart Meters in Italy and Sweden, Barcelona, 9 September 2014
GEODE
EVENTS
- GEODE Autumn Seminar, Barcelona, 27
November 2014
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GEODE's 2nd Workshop on Electricity Network Codes
Brussels, 1 October
2014
CEER Public hearing on Green electricity
Brussels, 7 October
2014
EC Gas Regulatory Forum
Madrid, 15-16 October
2014
CONCERTO Conference - Energy solutions for smart cities
and communities
Brussels, 23-24
October 2014
Energy Utility Week
Amsterdam, 4-6
November 2014
ENTSO-E Conference "Securing Europe’s Competitive
Energy Future"
Brussels, 19 November
2014
Electricity Regulatory Forum
Florence, 27-28
November 2014
GEODE Autumn Seminar
Barcelona, 27
November 2014
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ENTSOE Public Consultation on the Draft Ten-Year Network
Development Plan 2014
10 July - 20
September 2014
ACER Public Consultation on transaction reporting under
REMIT
22 July - 2 September
2014
EC Communication on Energy Efficiency
23 July 2014
CEER Memo on Development and Regulation of Electricity
Storage Applications
25 July 2014
CEER Memo on the unbundling of TSOs, DSOs and Closed
Distribution Systems Operators
30 July 2014
ACER First Decision on Cross-Border Cost-Allocation
decision
11 August 2014
ENTSOE Demand Side Response Policy Paper
15 September 2014
ACER Presentation of its Conclusions Paper: "Energy
Regulation: Bridge to 2025"
23 September 2014
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