Network codes implementation
Implementation of European Network Codes can sometimes be a difficult exercise. Existing ways of working, National legislation, opinions of the regulator and, not in the least, the wishes of our customers, are all to be taken into consideration.
Because of this paradox there might be questions relating to the compliance of the implementation. Below we show the questions we are aware of, with the answers.
FAQ
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The Dutch implementation complies with the requirements set out in this article, although shippers do not receive an invoice for their imbalance position at the end of the gas day within the meaning of this chapter of NC BAL. Article 21(2) of the NC BAL stipulates that the calculation of the daily imbalance quantity must be adjusted accordingly when a linepack flexibility service is offered. GTS offers such a service in such a way that the result of the calculation of the daily imbalance quantity is always zero. As a result, the daily imbalance charge is also always zero. Naturally, GTS does not send an invoice to its shippers for this.
GTS endorses the importance of an incentive for shippers to be in balance at the end of the gas day. The Linepack Flexibility Service has been set up for this purpose. The costs of this service are charged to the shippers.
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Yes, and the result is 0 every day, as explained in the answer to the previous question regarding the calculation of the daily imbalance charge.
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Yes, through the neutrality charge, costs and revenues from balancing activities are charged, including the linepack flexibility service, settlements from balancing actions and emergency situations, and costs due to non-payment. In the years prior to 2021, these costs were included in the transport tariffs. The method by which GTS determines the neutrality charge is regulated in the Dutch Transportcode Gas LNB.
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The Dutch implementation complies with this, except that the end-of-day forecast of the amount of gas in the transmission system is not published. Because GTS has implemented the “variant 1” information model, publishing an end-of-day forecast has no added value for network users. If we were to publish such a forecast, the best estimate would be that the SBS level at the end of the gas day would be equal to the SBS level at the start of the gas day. This follows logically from the fact that network users submit a day-ahead programme that is volume-neutral when seen over the entire gas day, and that prudent shippers do their utmost to execute this programme during the gas day.
Network users know (on a 5-minute basis) their own near-real-time position and the near-real-time position of the System Balance Signal (SBS), enabling them to mitigate their risks with regard to balancing actions.