Market barely regulated: Elcom also wants to monitor the gas industry

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Such a law has been planned for many years, but is still a long time coming. However, the overall economic relevance is not that high either, because consumption is relatively low. Gas accounts for only 15 percent of total energy consumption in Switzerland.

Nevertheless, the new law, which is mainly intended to increase the security of gas supply and create clear rules for consumers – whether they are households or large customers – is important for the industry. Last week, the Federal Council set the benchmarks and the energy service wants to draw up a corresponding model.

According to the government’s ideas, the Federal Electricity Commission (Elcom) will also be responsible for the implementation of the Gas Supply Act and will henceforth be called the Energy Commission (Encom). This is apparent in 2019 from an explanation of the consultation concept. However, the consultations criticized a “bloated feeling” of the regulatory body with eleven additional functions, as proposed by the Bundesrat at the time.

Elcom had already positioned itself for the additional task in the past. And when asked by the AWP news agency, the authority confirmed previous statements: “We still believe that Elcom will be developed into Encom and will supervise both the electricity and gas markets.”

That is logical and efficient, says Elcom spokeswoman Antonia Adam. There are significant synergies. In Europe as a whole, the availability of gas – via gas-fired power stations – also has a decisive influence on the power supply.

However, it was the Association of the Swiss Gas Industry (VSG) that was called in by the federal government to take measures to avoid a shortage last winter. The Bundesrat had obliged the gas industry to secure storage capacity in neighboring countries and options for additional gas supplies. He also instructed the gas association to set up a “crisis intervention organization”.

However, with a view to a kind of self-regulation in the industry, the association rejects: “The role of the regulatory authority will have to be taken over by a federal agency – a government agency,” says Michael Schmid of the VSG. . This is also confirmed by the Federal Office of Energy (SFOE): “The VSG is a trade association and therefore cannot take over the supervision,” says spokeswoman Marianne Zünd.

Encom would be responsible for tariffs and disputes over network access, as well as for contacts with the relevant authorities in neighboring countries. Monitoring the security of supply is not part of the tasks. This task is the responsibility of the SFOE.

(SDA)

Source:Blick