Enhancing bilateral cooperation between the energy regulators of Bulgaria and Romania in REMIT implementation and the prospects for market interconnectivity in the electricity and gas sectors were the main topics of the workshop between EWRC and ANRE (the Romanian energy regulator) experts. The meeting took place within the framework of the cooperation established between the two national regulators in accordance with the Cooperation Agreement signed in 2016. EWRC members Evgenia Haritonova and Alexandar Yordanov and experts from Electricity and Heat Energy Division and Natural Gas Division participated in the talks from the Bulgarian side. The Romanian delegation, led by ANRE Regulatory Board member Corina Sulger, consisted of experts from the gas and electricity market monitoring and regulation units.
The workshop was held in two thematic panels dedicated to the national regulators’ role for monitoring and oversight of the electricity market in accordance with REMIT requirements, and the development of interconnection between the two countries and the prospects for their national markets coupling.
EWRC experts presented the legal changes on the basis of which the Bulgarian energy regulator acquired new powers to apply REMIT provisions related to the wholesale market monitoring and supervision and identification of market manipulations carried out by trade participants. It was pointed out that the cooperation and experience exchange between the two national regulators will help EWRC effectively enforce REMIT requirements to ensure market transparency and avoid market abuse, insider trading and other prohibited practices.
Presenting ANRE activity on REMIT application, the Romanian experts informed on the activity and the structure of the special unit carrying out market surveillance and the established cooperation with the Romanian Completion Council. There is an established practice of interaction between them, both when initiating investigations into market manipulation in cases of suspected infringements under REMIT and in the course of subsequent research phases.
At a second workshop panel, EWRC and ANRE experts discussed the electricity and gas interconnections development between the two countries and prospects for national markets coupling. Information was exchanged about the state of the existing gas interconnection points and gas transmission systems interoperability in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2015/703 establishing a network code on interoperability and data exchange rules. The experts from both countries also discussed electricity interconnection issues, and the extension of transmission capacity in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/943, in particular. The regulation provides for applying 70 % minimum capacity level for free cross-zonal electricity trade and transmission. The prospects for achieving market coupling of Bulgarian and Romanian bidding zones were discussed, which according to the implementation plan containing the necessary measures should be implemented by mid-2021.
