Public consultation on the market functioning rules for the compensation of quarter-hour imbalances (“Balancing Rules”)

Context

Considering the design changes in balancing resulting from the expected entry into force on the 1^st of July 2020 of the Terms and Conditions for balancing service providers for Frequency Containment Reserve (“T&C BSP FCR”, see public consultation) and automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve (“T&C BSP aFRR”, see public consultation), Elia has identified the need to amend the Balancing Rules. Elia has also taken the opportunity to introduce a new structure for in the Balancing Rules and to clarify the text in order to improve the readability of the document.

In accordance with article 200 of the Federal Grid Code of 22 April 2019, Elia launches a public consultation on the proposed modifications.

Elia also consults on an alternative version of the Balancing Rules that would apply in case the application of the new design for aFRR is delayed and only the T&C BSP FCR enter into force on the 1^st of July 2020. In this alternative version, only design changes for the T&C BSP FCR are introduced besides some structural modifications to increase the readability. For this fallback version of the Balancing Rules, the information regarding the aFRR services is the one of the current version of the Balancing Rules (highlighted in yellow and in line with the existing General Framework Agreement for aFRR) but arranged according to the new structure and updated in accordance with terminology used in the new proposal of the Balancing Rules. As no fundamental design changes concerning aFRR are introduced in this alternative version, the text highlighted in yellow is not open to comments.

The informative note in support of the consultation elaborates on the reasons driving the modifications to the Balancing Rules.

Period

Elia invites the stakeholders to provide comments and suggestions on the consulted document via the online form below during the consultation period from 26 March to 24 April 2020.