We support the vision of a competitive, secure and sustainable European energy market that brings affordable and secure energy supplies to consumers.
We are working within the European Regulators' organisations (CEER and ACER) to develop the requirements of a comprehensive regulatory framework for cross-border competition and investment.
Why do European developments matter?
- We are physically connected to Europe through sub-sea pipes and wires meaning that European energy prices have a major influence here.
- Legally, we are subject to EU legislation and policy-making that has an increasing impact on consumers and markets in Britain.
- The creation of transparent, integrated and liberalised European gas and electricity markets would contribute to higher levels of competition, thus reducing energy prices for consumers. It would also result in the diversification of supply, increasing the security of supply and contributing to safe and stable provision of gas and electricity to British consumers.
- Key developments in environmental policy relating to energy are increasingly driven at a European level.
How Ofgem works through ACER and CEER
ACER
We are a member of the Agency for the Cooperation of European Regulators (ACER), the European Union body established under the Third Energy Package. ACER's mission is to foster cooperation among European energy regulators and ensure market integration and harmonisation of regulatory frameworks.
The Agency became fully operational in March 2011. Its headquarters are located in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Lord Mogg is currently Chair of ACER’s Board of Regulators.
We are actively involved in the work of ACER and help shape binding rules. To do this, teams within Markets and SG&G (gas and electricity) regularly participate at working groups and task forces at ACER where they provide input and lead on policy developments.
There are 4 ACER working groups:
- Electricity Working Group
- Gas Working Group
- Market Integrity and Transparency Working Group
- Implementation, Monitoring and Procedures Working Group
CEER
We are a member of the Council of the European Energy Regulators (CEER), a not-for-profit European association established in 2000 in Brussels. CEER brings together the independent national energy regulators from the member states of the EU and from countries in the European Economic Area (EEA). Lord Mogg is currently President of CEER.
CEER acts as a focal point for information exchange and assistance between Europe's national energy regulators.
There are seven CEER working groups that complement ACER’s work and focus more widely on retail, smart grids and international issues.
We are an active member of CEER. Mark Copley (Associate Partner) is currently Vice Chair of the Electricity Working Group. Andrew Burgess (Associate Partner, SG&G) is currently co-chair of the Smart Grids Coordination Group. Ryan McLaughlin (Senior Manager, Wholesale Markets) is Co-Chair of the Gas Storage task Force and the Gas Balancing Task Force. Louise van Rensburg is Co-Chair of the Market Monitoring Governance Task Force. Colleagues from different policy teams in Markets, SG&G and Sustainable Development regularly attend meetings at CEER.
Embedding of EU issues
European issues are embedded right across the organisation with policy developed at the domestic and European level. This reflects the importance of the European dimension to our work. Within all teams there are staff dedicated to influencing European energy policy to the benefit of energy consumers in the UK and ensuring the best deal for all European consumers at EU level.