on the position to be adopted, on behalf of the European Union, within the EEA Joint Committee concerning an amendment to Annex IV (Energy) to the EEA Agreement [32017R1485 - Guideline on electricity transmission system operation "ETS" - "SOGL"]

ANNEX

DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE

No […]

of […]

amending Annex IV (Energy) to the EEA Agreement

THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (“the EEA Agreement”), and in particular Articles 86 and 98 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1485 of 2 August 2017 establishing a guideline on electricity transmission system operation is to be incorporated in the EEA Agreement.

(2)Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1485 does not apply to transmission systems on islands which are not connected to other transmission systems via interconnections.

(3)As the transmission system of Iceland is not connected with other transmission systems, Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1485 should not apply to Iceland.

(4)Due to its small size and the limited number of electricity customers, Liechtenstein does not have an own transmission electricity network. Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1485 should therefore not apply to Liechtenstein.

(5)References to Transmission System Operators (“TSOs”), Distribution System Operators (“DSOs”), Significant Grid Users (“SGUs”), regulatory authorities, stakeholders and designated entities should be understood to include the TSO, DSOs, SGUs, regulatory authority, stakeholders and designated entities representing Norway.

(6)When jointly developing terms, conditions and methods pursuant to Commission Regulation (EU) No 2017/1485, it is essential that all necessary information is submitted without delay. Close cooperation between TSOs and regulators should ensure that sensitive information, such as detailed information about electrical substations, exact location of underground transmission, information about control systems and detailed vulnerability analyses that can be used for sabotage, is effectively protected in the process of developing terms, conditions or methodologies. To ensure the effective implementation of this Regulation, the same level of cooperation regarding information exchange and protection of sensitive information should be established in the cooperation with Norway.

(7)Input from all main stakeholders in the development of regional or EEA-wide terms, conditions and methodologies, that may become binding through regulatory approval, is crucial for an effective regulatory cross-border framework. The TSOs and other stakeholders should therefore participate in the processes for the development of proposals for terms, conditions and methodologies as set out in the various provisions in this Regulation. The Norwegian TSO and NEMOs should notably participate in the stakeholder decision-making in a similar manner as TSOs and NEMOs representing an EU Member State.

(8)For regional or Union-wide proposals, where the approval of proposals from TSOs requires a decision by more than one regulatory authority, regulatory authorities should consult and closely cooperate in order to reach agreement before the regulatory authorities adopt a decision. The Norwegian regulatory authority should be involved in this cooperation.

(9)As this Regulation has been adopted on the basis of Regulation (EC) No 714/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 on conditions for access to the network for cross-border exchanges in electricity and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1228/2003, the adaptation texts elaborated and adopted under Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 93/2017 of 5 May 2017 for the implementation of Regulation 714/2009, in particular the provisions in Art. 1 (1) and (5) thereof, which provide for adaptations concerning the role of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators in the EEA context, are relevant for the application of this Regulation in the EEA, notably for Article 6 (8) and Article 7 (3).

(10)Annex IV to the the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: