Balancing Actions (WDBA)

If the SBS forecast for the end of the current hour exceeds the specified limits, a balancing action is triggered. The aim of such a balancing action is to bring the SBS back to the border of the dark green zone.

During a balancing action, GTS buys or sells the WD (Within-Day) product on ICE Endex (Dutch TTF Gas Spot) for the required quantity. This means that gas is bought/sold in equal parts from 4 hours after the time of the exchange order until the end of the current gas day. For example: a balancing action at 13:20 leads to gas being delivered from 17:00 to 06:00.

The costs incurred as a result of carrying out the balancing action, i.e. the price realised on the exchange, are passed on to those responsible for the imbalance. If a balancing action is carried out in the orange or red zone, an additional levy of 10% or 20% respectively is charged on top of the exchange price.

• If the SBS forecast of 10 minutes after the hour exceeds the dark green zone, an initial announcement of the balancing action is made via Gasport and a request for quote (RfQ) is submitted to ICE Endex.
• If the SBS forecast of 15 minutes past the hour is still outside the dark green zone, a second announcement is made via Gasport and ICE Endex (RfQ).
• If the SBS forecast of 20 minutes past the hour is still outside the dark green zone, GTS will place a Market Order to buy/sell gas on the ICE Endex within-day market.
• The balancing actions take place at a random time between 21 and 22 minutes past the hour.

The volume to be purchased or sold is calculated by taking the difference between the SBS forecast at hh:20 and the published limit value of the dark green zone for the hour in question. The volume is purchased or sold in quantities of 1 MWh.

• The costs of the balancing action that are passed on to the causers are based on the volume-weighted average price of the gas purchased/sold.
• The gas delivered/received as a result of the above balancing action is allocated pro rata to the causers based on the accounting POS at the time of the order.
• The gas that is purchased/sold is taken/delivered in equal parts from 4 hours after the hour of the exchange order until the end of the current gas day. For example: a balancing action at 13:20 leads to gas being delivered from 17:00 to 06:00.

The execution of a balancing action and the distribution of the gas purchased/sold is an automated process. Shippers with a POS in the same direction as the SBS during the hour of the balancing action are considered to be the causers.

The causers are informed about which part of the purchased/sold gas will be allocated to their POS and in which hours this will take place. A clearing confirmation is sent via electronic messaging. The entry/exit transactions take place at the Balancing Virtual Point and are published via Gasport and B2B.

Invoicing takes place after the end of each month.

The table below shows an overview of all balancing actions and emergency measure calls in the past 5 years, showing details of the balancing action such as time, hours of delivery, total traded volume and price.

Use "Meer opties" to download