ACER to gain more powers in regulatory issues involving multiple member states

The European Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) will gain greater powers in matters with cross-border impacts, such as ensuring the stability of transmission systems across regions. EU institutions reached an informal agreement on the matter on Tuesday.

ACER is a body established to provide regulatory oversight of situations involving multiple member states. Until now, ACER has coordinated the activities of national energy regulatory authorities. It will now gain additional powers in areas where fragmented national decisions of cross-border significance could create problems for the European internal energy market.

ACER will newly oversee the maintenance of regional transmission system stability through supervision of planned regional coordination centres operated by transmission system operators.

“The ACER Agency will, for example, supervise future regional coordination centres, where transmission system operators will be able to decide on issues in which fragmented and uncoordinated national actions could negatively affect the market and consumers,” the European Commission said following successful talks with negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.

ACER will also take direct decisions on cross-border regulatory issues, instead of the current situation in which approval by all national regulators is required in many cases. Under the current process, such decisions are referred to ACER if national regulatory authorities fail to reach a unanimous agreement.

Regulatory authorities in individual member states will continue to participate in decision-making, but will now do so through voting within ACER.

The next step for the changes to enter into force is for the Council of the EU, representing the governments of member states, and the European Parliament to formally approve the agreement, which is usually only a formality. The updated regulation governing ACER will enter into force in all EU countries after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.