Reduction of lead time nominations

The EASEE-gas Common Business Practices advise a lead time for transport nominations of 2 full clock hours (H-2). This 2-hour period is more or less the European standard lead time and enables the TSO to arrange its transport system to be prepared for changes.

GTS has investigated under which conditions and at which interconnection points it is possible to reduce the 2-hour nomination lead time. This gives commercial parties more flexibility to keep their portfolio in balance and a shorter lead time also fits in better with the existing balancing system applied by GTS. For that purpose, GTS has contacted a large number of NNOs (production facilities, storage operators and industrial customers) about the operational and administrative possibilities. The following lead times have been agreed for use by GTS:

• Border points 2 hours (in line with EASEE-)
• Industrial customers: 30 mins
• Storage operators: 30 mins (*)
• Production facilities: 30 mins (*)

 (*) At some specific storage and production points, it is not possible to reduce the lead time due to limitations in the network or it is the wish of the NNO to stick to a 2-hour nomination lead time.

Certain conditions have to be met for nominations at interconnection points with a 30-minute lead time; Large changes in the short term especially can result in problems in the network. For that reason, the following rules apply for network points with a capacity over 1,000,000 kWh/h:

• For bidirectional connectionpoints on which a Shipper has booked firm capacity in both directions, the highest value of the firm booked entry and exit capacity is determined first. The max. acceptable difference (25%) is based on the highest value.

• The maximum difference according to the 25% rule is based on the confirmation value of H-2 and the nomination value received between H-2 and H-½. This difference may not exceed 25% of the firm booked capacity, with a maximum change of 1,000,000 kWh/hour compared to the previous confirmation always being allowed (as long as the contracted capacity permits this). 

If a party would like to have a lead time of ½ hour at a connection point which currently does not offer this option, he should contact our Customer Desk. 

GTS will check whether or not lead time reduction is possible and contact the NNO involved. Together they will investigate whether or not a reduction of the lead time is possible. GTS will inform the party about the results and, if a reduction is possible, about the starting date of the reduction.