The European Council has agreed to improve regional electricity market legislation. If the European Parliament supports the proposed reforms, it could stabilize energy prices and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, says Teresa Ribera Rodríguez, Spain’s ecological transition minister.
The European Council approved a proposal this week to improve electricity market design in Europe. If the European Parliament approves the reforms, they will result in more stable energy prices, lower dependence on fossil fuel costs, and better crisis resilience, according to Teresa Ribera Rodríguez, Spain’s ecological transition minister.
“We will also accelerate the deployment of renewables, a cheaper and cleaner source of energy for our citizens,” she said.
The EU Council has announced reforms to stabilize long-term electricity markets, in order to support power purchase agreements (PPAs). The changes involve generalizing two-way contracts for difference (CfDs) and enhancing forward market liquidity. Member states will support PPAs by removing specific barriers and eliminating “disproportionate or discriminatory” procedures if these reforms are approved.
“Measures may include among other things, state-backed guarantee schemes at market prices, private guarantees, or facilities pooling demand for PPAs,” said the EU Council. “Measures may include among other things, state-backed guarantee schemes at market prices, private guarantees, or facilities pooling demand for PPAs.”
Two-way contracts for difference – only applied after a transition period of three years, but five years for hybrid projects connected to two or more bidding zones – would apply to investments in renewable energy, including solar.
“The council added flexibility as to how revenues generated by the state through two-way CfDs would be redistributed,” it said. “Revenues would be redistributed to final customers and they may also be used to finance the costs of the direct price support schemes or investments to reduce electricity costs for final customers.”
The proposal includes a clause regarding consumer protection, with the amendment establishing the free choice of supplier and the option of accessing dynamic electricity prices. This would be across fixed-term and long-term contracts.
“The council agreed to stricter rules than previously for suppliers in their price-hedging strategies to shield customers from variations on wholesale markets,” the council stated. “It agreed to protect vulnerable customers from disconnections by putting in place ‘supplier of last resort’ systems to ensure the continuity of supply at least for household customers if such systems do not already exist.
The reforms also empower member states to set regulated prices for small- to medium-sized businesses during crises, according to the announcement.
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