GBK-24-02-1#5 Determination on the collection of data for developing quality regulation with respect to network reliability, network performance and network service quality in the electricity sector
Determination on the collection of data for developing quality regulation with respect to network reliability, network performance and network service quality in the electricity sector
The Grand Ruling Chamber for Energy issued a determination on the collection of data for developing quality regulation with respect to network reliability, network performance and network service quality in the electricity sector in accordance with section 29(1) in conjunction with section 21a(3) sentence 3 para 11 of the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) on 17 March 2025 [GBK-24-02-1#5].
The responsibility of the Bundesnetzagentur to issue a nationwide determination derives from section 54(3) sentence 3 EnWG. The responsibility of the Grand Ruling Chamber for Energy derives from section 59(3) sentence 3 EnWG.
Under section 21a(3) sentence 3 para 5 EnWG the Bundesnetzagentur can lay down rules for the definition and detailed design of quality requirements. In this connection, the Bundesnetzagentur is working on extending quality regulation to include network performance in the form of energy transition competence and possibly also network service quality in addition to network reliability. Under section 21a(3) sentence 3 para 11 EnWG the Bundesnetzagentur can also lay down rules for collecting the data required to perform incentive regulation, including the scope, time and form, in particular the permissible data and transmission media, in order to fulfil this task. It made use of this opportunity in the form of the determination.
Determination
Since the determination is addressed to all operators of electricity distribution systems in Germany with the exception of operators of closed distribution systems within the meaning of section 110 EnWG, the Grand Ruling Chamber for Energy gave public notification of the determination in place of service pursuant to section 73(1) sentence 1 EnWG in accordance with section 73(1a) sentence 1 EnWG. Public notification is brought about by publication in the Bundesnetzagentur’s Official Gazette of the operative part of the determination, of the notification of appellate remedies and of a brief statement that the decision in full has been published on the Bundesnetzagentur’s website (section 73(1a) sentence 2 EnWG). The determination is deemed to have been served on the day following its making public in accordance with section 73(1a) sentence 4 EnWG in conjunction with section 41(4) sentence 4 of the Administrative Procedure Act (VwVfG).
Determination for the collection of data for developing quality regulation in german only
Final questionnaire
FAQ on the questionnaire
The list of definitions from the efficiency benchmarking proceedings may be found here
Consultation on the draft determination
The Grand Ruling Chamber is presenting the questionnaire for developing quality regulation as a basis for discussing the data requirements. The questionnaire is closely related to the Grand Ruling Chamber’s previous deliberations in the proceedings for the determination of the future design of the methodology for quality regulation for the operators of electricity and gas distribution systems. The data elements in the questionnaire would be collected as part of the annual monitoring survey and would therefore also be consulted on in the consultation on the questionnaires for the annual monitoring.
The aim of these determination proceedings is to collect data for the purpose of developing quality regulation. The data collected would be used to identify a suitable set of data and suitable indicators, derive indicator values for each individual network operator and develop a method enabling financial incentives to be attached to the indicators identified. The questionnaire reflects the Grand Ruling Chamber’s current views and serves as a basis for discussions with all stakeholders.
20250203 Determination on the collection of data for developing quality regulation – key considerations (in German only)
Questionnaire (in German only)
The Bundesnetzagentur is giving stakeholders the opportunity to comment as part of the consultation on the questionnaire for the annual monitoring until
14 February 2025.
The responses relating to the questionnaire for developing quality regulation will be published. If your response contains trade and business secrets or personal data, please mark your response accordingly and submit an additional version with the confidential information blacked out. Please add the name of your company/organisation to the file and send your response to gbk@bnetza.de in an email marked “GBK-24-02-1#5; name of your company/organisation”.
Since the start of the consultation on the data collection questionnaire in the proceedings for the determination on the collection of data for developing quality regulation with respect to network reliability, network performance and network service quality in the electricity sector, associations and individual network operators have contacted the Bundesnetzagentur and asked for the deadline to be extended.
The Bundesnetzagentur appreciates that the period of time allowed for the extensive process of collecting and taking into account stakeholders’ responses is short compared to other deadlines in the NEST process. This is mainly due to a combination of formal process deadlines and the collection of the data as part of the annual monitoring survey. The deadline corresponds to that set in the annual monitoring consultation. It is therefore not possible for the Bundesnetzagentur to extend the deadline.
The Bundesnetzagentur would like to point out that a large number of the data elements in the questionnaire being consulted on are the same as those in other processes, such as for quality regulation, efficiency benchmarking and monitoring, which means that it should be relatively easy for companies to provide the required data. In view of this, responses should focus more on the new, additional data elements. The Bundesnetzagentur has used different colours in the questionnaire to clearly differentiate between data elements that are already included in other questionnaires and those that are new.
Initiation of proceedings
The Grand Ruling Chamber for Energy has opened proceedings for a determination on the collection of data for developing quality regulation with respect to network reliability, network performance and network service quality in the electricity sector in accordance with section 29(1) in conjunction with section 21a(3) sentence 3 para 11 of the Energy Industry Act (EnWG). The proceedings were opened on 3 February 2025 [GBK-24-02-1#5] and serve to enable the methodology determination for quality regulation [GBK-24-02-1#4].
The responsibility of the Bundesnetzagentur to issue a nationwide determination derives from section 54(3) sentence 3 EnWG. The responsibility of the Grand Ruling Chamber for Energy derives from section 59(3) sentence 3 EnWG.
Under section 21a(3) sentence 3 para 5 EnWG the Bundesnetzagentur can lay down rules for the definition and detailed design of quality requirements. In this connection, the Bundesnetzagentur is working on extending quality regulation to include network performance in the form of energy transition competence and possibly also network service quality in addition to network reliability. Under section 21a(3) sentence 3 para 11 EnWG the Bundesnetzagentur can also lay down rules for collecting the data required to perform incentive regulation, including the scope, time and form, in particular the permissible data and transmission media, in order to fulfil this task.
GBK-24-02-1#5