The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission adopted a decision approving amendments and additions to Regulation No. 6 of 24 February 2014 on the connection of producers and customers of electricity to the transmission or distribution grids.
Following the entry into force of the amendments to the Energy Act adopted at the beginning of 2023, ESO EAD has received a large number of requests from customers and producers of electricity for connection of their sites under a temporary access scheme. This calls for an urgent need to regulate the conditions and procedure for such connection at sub-legislative level.
The adopted amendments to Regulation No. 6 establish a legal framework for connection under a temporary access scheme to the electricity grid and regulate the basic rights and obligations of the electricity grid operator, customers and producers. The new texts are in line with the adopted legal amendments, according to which the electricity network operator is obliged to offer connection under a temporary access scheme in the order of receipt of requests from customers/producers. The time limits within which ESO EAD shall agree on the conditions for connection to the respective electricity distribution network are also regulated.
The analysis of the regulator shows that the connection of new electricity generation facilities is expected to increase the amount of energy traded on the organised exchange market and create conditions for achieving more favourable prices. In addition, the connection under the temporary access scheme will also lead to a more efficient use of the capacity of the electricity transmission network.
"The main purpose of the proposed changes in Regulation No. 6 is to reduce the administrative burden on the participants in the connection procedures and to regulate a temporary access scheme to the electricity grid. The regulator aim to create clear rules and order regarding the whole process", said the Chairman of the Commission Assoc. Ivan Ivanov at the public hearing.
In accordance with the legal framework, prior to the adoption of Regulation No. 6, the Commission published the draft normative act and the report of the working group on its website and on the Public Consultation Portal. The public consultation was held on 20.04.2023 with the participation of ESO EAD, Electrodistribution South EAD, Electrodistribution North AD, the Association for Production, Storage and Trading of Electricity, which expressed support in principle for the proposed changes. All interested parties were given the opportunity to submit written comments within 14 days, to which the regulator provided a reasoned response in its final decision.
The decision of the EWRC to adopt amendments to Regulation No. 6 has been sent for publication in the Official Gazette.
Source: EWRC
