The Status of Power TSO Development in Europe

Publication Date	May 2007
Publisher	Datamonitor
Product Type	Report
Pages	21
ISBN Number	not applicable
Product Code	DAT08197

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Summary

Power transmission networks are the vital link in the electricity value chain, transporting power from generation suppliers to distribution for end users. By analysing the TSO operating environment it is possible to understand how they will fare in the face of ever increasing liberalisation.

Scope

An overview of the European TSO landscape, and the pivotal role the electricity transmission system plays in promoting competition within the sector.
An understanding of the development of EU legislation and policies regarding transmission system operators.
An in-depth analysis of the different stages of TSO independence development in key European markets.
A comparison of the profitability of independent TSOs and those embedded in vertically-integrated utilities.

Highlights

Eleven of the twenty markets assessed have gone beyond the legal separation requirement of the Second EU Electricity Directive, with full ownership separation of power networks.

The relatively high profitability of TSOs belonging to vertically integrated utilities is a strong disincentive to divest by vertically integrated utilities.

Congestion management is one of the most important operational issues facing TSOs. It is forcing TSOs to become increasingly inter-linked, using a variety of mechanisms. For example, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK use market coupling to synchronise their power imports and exports to manage transmission congestion.

Reasons to Purchase

Discern the consequences of network unbundling on vertically integrated utilities.
Understand the potential conflicts of introducing a regional transmission organisation in Europe.
Understand how national TSOs mitigate cross-border congestion by employing market based methods such as market coupling.

Content

Datamonitor View
Catalyst
Summary
Analysis
- Multi-regional cooperation will increase, yet transmission systems will retain their national identity
- Congestion management is the single most important operational issue facing TSOs
- Grid interconnection systems are used to enhance congestion management
- Inter-TSO linkages will increase, but will maintain their separate identities
- The Nordic region has achieved a high level of network harmonization
- Vertically integrated utilities have no incentive to divest their network assets
- The relative high profitability of TSO subsidiaries will be a strong disincentive to divest by the vertically integrated utilities
- Ownership unbundling would have the highest impact on German and Austrian vertically integrated utilities
- In the US, independent TSOs have merged into Regional Transmission Organizations
- The RTO model is inconsistent with the goal of full market liberalization
- Despite EU legislation, TSO independence is unresolved
- EU energy policies seek to open grid networks to competition
- EU legislation has consistently focused on stimulating electricity network competition
- Structural network unbundling is the major catalyst for grid network reform
- Full ownership unbundling is already common across Europe
- Electricity transmission systems are key in achieving overall European power market liberalization
- The Transmission system operator is the link between power supply and demand
- Ownership and control of grid networks vary across Europe
- Ownership and control of grid networks vary across Europe
- TSOs belonging to vertically integrated utilities play little or no role in organized wholesale power markets
- The models employed to regulate TSO tariffs by regulators are hardly uniform
Appendix
- Definitions
- Methodology
- Further reading
- Datamonitor Consultancy
- Ask the Analyst
- Disclaimer
List Of Figures
- Figure 1: European TSO organizations
- Figure 2: 2005 Return on Assets
- Figure 3: EU legislation has consistently focused on simulating electricity network competition
- Figure 4: Transmission grid system independence
- Figure 5: TSO ownership structure - Part I
- Figure 6: TSO ownership structure - Part II