Development of the Austrian gas market model
Development of the Austrian gas market model
The transposition of the 3rd Package creates the need to adapt the current Austrian gas market model. The necessary adaptations must respect the Community legal framework but at the same time retain the well-proven elements of the current market model (such as the balancing group model and the ‘rucksack’ principle).Community law aims to create a liquid wholesale market. For Austria, this translates into the need to introduce an entry/exit regime for natural gas transmission (i.e. one that is independent of transport routes) and an integration of transits with the domestic market (including free trade and allocation of capacity). Generally, the number of market areas relevant for any entry/exit regime depends on technical conditions (physical connections) and economic feasibility. In Austria, the market area should cover the entire geographic area of the existing Eastern control area and enable seamless integration of the trading services offered at CEGH into this market.
