Pending the European Parliament's opinion at first reading, the Council agreed on a general approach regarding a proposal for a Directive on measures to safeguard security of electricity supply and infrastructure investment, whilst the Commission reserved its position at this stage.
The key features of the general approach are as follows:
- As regards the establishment of a high level of security of electricity supply, the text tries to find a balance between binding criteria and optional ones.
- Concerning provisions on operational network security and the need of maintaining a balance between demand and supply, it has been clarified that the main components of security of electricity supply are taken into account in the following way:
1) The operational rules and obligations are foreseen in order to ensure the necessary transmission margins in the network.
2) A specific provision establishes the requirements for the daily management of the systems.
3) The text also reflects the need for momentary generation reserve capacities and other reserve capacities.
- The provisions on transmission and distribution network investment have been simplified by deleting the prioritisation of demand side management measures when investment decisions are taken and removing certain conditions for investment decisions such as the need to take into account the increased possibilities for connecting renewable electricity.
- The role of the regulatory authorities and the Commission regarding investments for interconnection construction has been streamlined and the reporting requirements imposed on TSOs have been simplified.