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Congestion management

To prevent congestion at interconnection points (including virtual interconnection points), referred to as IPs and VIPs below,  GTS has introduced the following CMP measures:

  • Surrender of Capacity
  • Oversubscription & Buy-Back
  • Long-Term Use It Or Lose It

Surrender of Capacity (SoC)

Shippers can ask GTS to offer or reoffer previously contracted capacity on the auction platform PRISMA. More information about SoC can be found here.

Oversubscription & Buy-Back (OBB)

At IPs or VIPs with contractual congestion, GTS offers additional capacity (firm or interruptible) through its oversubscription and buy-back scheme (OBB). GTS determines the volume of OBB capacity made available for each IP/VIP and each auction product.

During an auction, capacity that has become available through an OBB scheme cannot be distinguished from technical capacity (firm or interruptible). There is therefore no operational difference between booked OBB capacity and booked regular technical capacity.

In the unlikely event that contractual congestion actually becomes physical congestion, GTS will take the measures necessary to clear the physical congestion. The best option for achieving this, without affecting the rights of shippers who have contracted OBB capacity, is to hold a buy-back auction on PRISMA. Capacities will be nominated or renominated in such a way that the physical congestion will be resolved.

Long-term use it or lose it (LT UIOLI)

When an IP/VIP is identified as a congestion point, GTS reports, in accordance with CMP requirements, the use of capacity contracted by a shipper to the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets, ACM. It is up to this regulator to decide whether a shipper should return its capacity (stating the proportion and period of time concerned) to GTS. The returned capacity is offered or reoffered by GTS at a PRISMA auction.

ACM (NL), CREG (BE) and OfGem (UK) have developed a shared vision of the criteria for imposing and applying LT UIOLI. You can find this vision on their respective websites.