NORTH-WEST GAS REGION
PRIORITIES & KEY ACHIEVMENTS SO FAR - OCTOBER 2007

• All priorities have been put into project plans 

• Developed draft terms of reference for gas balancing interactions. 

• TSOs responded to a questionnaire relating to the market requirements for transparency prepared EFET and IFIEC. This will identify the quick wins and assist in the formulation of a plan going forward for publication on the data.
• TSOs agreed to deliver firm timetable for delivery of plans to provide daily capacity and flow data - plans sent to the RCC on 17 October and published afterwards for stakeholder's review.
• Conducted a survey to Regulators requesting information on the application of less than 3. This information is feeding in the development of guidance for Regulators.
• Initial draft of the less than three guidelines was published for consultation in June 2007. Final version published in October 2007.
• Published the Project  Plan of Storage operators to improve transparency.
• Initial improvements in storage transparency (inventory levels, available capacity and investment plans) have already been delivered.

• Issued a final Report on the Answers to the Questionnaire on Interconnections, Primary and Secondary Capacity Markets.
• Held kick-off meetings on three IPs for the year 2007 (Taisnieres, Oude Statenzijl, Obergailbach Medelsheim): Identification of implementation goals and next steps on the basis of project plan.
• Held IP-specific meetings, evaluating situation and possible solutions for progress.
• Implementated first measures regarding the transparency at the interconnection point of Mendelsheim / Obergailbach : publication of daily flows by GDFDT in September 2007.
• Launched 2 coordinated open seasons by Fluxys and GRTgaz at the interconnection point of Blaregnies / Taisnières
• Finalising work on a pilot focused on improving the trade in secondary capacity rights on the border between Germany and the Netherlands (Bunde/Oude Statenzijl) and the border between Germany and Denmark (Ellund). This project is referred to as the "Day ahead capacity pilot" and is expected to be launched by the beginning of 2008.

• Produced a conclusion paper with assessment of  NW-European hubs' liquidity problem.
• Held a first UG meeting on GTF on 6 June. Based on experiences from this meeting lead regulator will facilitate start-up meetings on other hubs.  
• Held a second meeting on GTF on 6 September. Base on the outcome of this meeting Energinet.dk and the lead regulator of the region are currently drafting an action plan for GTF to be presented at next SG.

• Issued a questionnaire to TSO’s with the goal of identifying key issues for the regional action plan to be developed.  

• Developed an understanding of each NRA’s current powers, focusing on areas of regulatory overlap, interconnection, cross border flows and investment and published this in a report.
• Approved MoU to formalise a commitment to regulatory co-ordination in the region.