In addition ERGEG has received confidential responses from the following stakeholders:

Gas Natural
EnBW
RWE Gas

On the 15th June 2007 ERGEG launched a public consultation on Calculation of Available Capacities: Understanding the Issues – An ERGEG Public Consultation Paper.

Adequate available capacity calculation is crucial for effective capacity allocation and congestion management. Variations in the way available capacity is calculated generate risks for undue discrimination of new entrants and create obstacles for trading. The current capacity calculation practice across Europe is based on network scenarios per operational control area (assumptions) chosen by TSOs pursuant to their own judgements and policy. This flexibility in the hands of individual TSOs raises some concerns of proper available capacity calculation such as: (a) there is no guarantee for coordination between TSOs; (b) no industry-wide guidelines for network scenario selection exist; (c) there is no guarantee that the TSO’s judgements in the selection of the network scenario are in line with the objective of creating a more fluid and more competitive market; (d) there is no guarantee for consistency over time and across European networks; (e) there is no guarantee that the generated level of available capacity corresponds to the maximum capability of the system; (f) there is no transparency concerning possible residual risks of interruption associated to the network scenario (reliability).

In the light of above mentioned concerns, ERGEG seeks views on ways for greater transparency, greater consistency and optimisation of available capacity calculation throughout the EU’s gas transmission networks. Particularly, stakeholder’s views are sought on the following areas: .

• Transparency and communication of available capacity calculation across European networks. 
• Need for the regulation of capacity calculation and on the nature of recommendations for proper capacity calculation.
• Consistency and coordination of available capacity calculation over both time and networks.
• Calculation process of available capacity.Ways to maximise the level of available capacity and the use made of it.  
• Market Matching of capacity.

ERGEG invites all interested parties to comment on the understanding and issues raises in this paper. Any comments should be received by 10^th August 2007 and should be sent by email to calculationcapacities@ergeg.org. Following the end of the public consultation period, ERGEG will publish all comments received from stakeholders. Any respondents wishing ERGEG to treat its contribution as confidential should clearly state this in their reply and endeavour to give any confidential material in annexes that can be separated from publishable non-confidential material.

Any questions relating to this document should in first instance be directed to:

Mrs. Fay Geitona
Tel: +32 2 788 73 30
Fax: +32 2 788 73 50
Email: fay.geitona@ceer-eu.org