The European National Energy Regulatory Landscape

Abstract

Overview

Introduction

As energy liberalisation gains momentum across the EU, the role of the national energy regulator assumes greater importance for new entrants and cross border trade. However, within the energy sector the competencies of energy regulators vary widely, underlying the importance of gaining an overall understanding of the European regulatory landscape.

Scope of this report

• A detailed analysis of EU energy regulatory policy, combined with insight into the relative strategic and resource approaches employed by each.
• An assessment of the key factors that determine regulatory independence and insight into the jurisdictions of each regulatory body.
• An investigation into the expanded roles regulators could potentially play in the energy sector to further market development.
• An analysis of the impact of the EU' s third energy package on national regulators and how a European super regulator will affect the sector.

  Research and analysis highlights

  The mandates of many national regulators extend beyond energy, raising questions of efficiency and synergy. A regulator with duties beyond its core energy mandate would have difficulty in being efficient and achieving synergies, particularly if the responsibilities are substantially different from each other.

  National energy regulators are obligated to demonstrate objectivity in executing their mandates. Industry independence is paramount since their positions as impartial arbitrators will be severely compromised if they hold vested interests in the energy sector.

  The energy sector plays a significant role in the climate change debate. As such, energy regulators are best positioned to collaborate with their national governments to implement policy, though few actually do.

  Key reasons to read this report

  • Gain a panoramic understanding of how the mandates and authorities of national energy regulators vary across the EU.
  • Compare how EU national energy regulators differ in terms of political, financial and industrial independence.
  • Understand how the EU' s third energy package will empower European national energy regulators.