Yesterday, the employers’ association of the large electricity companies presented, speeding up the deadline given by the Government to the maximum, its allegations to the decree creating the new National Energy Commission (CNE), after agreeing to its split from the current National Commission of Markets and the Competition (CNMC).
Among these allegations, electricity companies ask for greater transparency in the inspection process to guarantee legal security and institutional trust as occurs in other sectors. “A clear and transparent inspection procedure and recognition of ex ante investments would facilitate the objectives set in the energy transition and would avoid portraits in the recognition of investments made by distributors,” say the sources consulted. That is, they ask to know the criteria and methodology of the inspections. Also maintain the possibility of presenting allegations to the results of these inspections as the current CNMC had already recognized, although it had not yet been applied.
Along these lines, companies trust that the creation of the new body will increase the provision of funds and personnel that the regulator needs to avoid, as is currently the case, that inspection actions have to be outsourced and ensure that “whoever carries them out be the agency’s own personnel with adequate training and experience.” The electrical employers’ association, Aelec, has also conveyed to the Government that given the importance of regulation for the sector in the coming years, it would be advisable for the structure of the new body not to be set by law but rather to give authority to the board of directors of the CNE so that it can be adapted according to the needs of the market.
In the Government’s text, whose public consultation closed yesterday, three directions of instruction are established: electricity, hydrocarbons and new fuels, and inspection.
The electricity companies also request a separation of the direction of hydrocarbons and new fuels to gain efficiency in achieving the decarbonization objective. What is intended is to separate the management of both sectors and create a specific direction not only for new fuels as is now contemplated, but also for hydrocarbons and electricity.
They also suggest that possibilities be assessed such as a direction focused on networks and infrastructure and another dedicated to markets (given that electricity and gas markets have more in common with each other than with networks).
On the other hand, the electricity companies welcome the creation of the fund for the settlements of the electricity and gas sector since it will allow them to gain transparency.
