Electricity Balancing

The Electricity Balancing Regulation

The Electricity Balancing (EB) Regulation sets out rules for the procurement, exchange, and activation of balancing services. Its provisions cover:

The EB Regulation also defines obligations for TSOs, National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs), and ACER concerning the development of Terms and Conditions or Methodologies (TCMs), as well as describing their adoption process.

TCMs establish the technical guidelines and rules to further define the provisions outlined in the electricity market regulations. Their aim is to create a common and harmonised regulatory framework within the EU and to ensure transparency and fair practices.

This page provides an overview of the TCMs developed under the EB Regulation and presents an indication of their implementation status.

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electricity infrastructure
  • Further updates on the implementation status

    The information on the implementation status of the TCMs has been compiled by ACER on the inputs provided by NRAs. It will undergo updates as soon as the relevant monitoring is conducted. In some cases, additional information or clarifications from regulatory authorities might be needed.

  • Latest monitoring dashboard

    ACER regularly develops interactive dashboards that visualise the implementation of specific TCMs.

    Scroll down to explore the latest monitoring dashboard (Imbalance Settlement Harmonisation methodology).

Electricity Balancing Regulation Terms and Conditions or Methodologies


Status of implementation

  • Fully implemented
  • Largely implemented
  • Partially implemented
  • Not implemented

EU-wide Methodologies

EU-wide methodologies are developed jointly by all TSOs or all Nominated Electricity Market Operators (NEMOs) at a pan-European level. They provide guidelines and standards that govern energy operations across all Member States.

The RR platform is operational since 2020. Not all TSOs use the RR process, therefore they do not intend to join the platform.

14/12/2019
 - 
15/01/2019
10/03/2024
 - 
23/03/2023

The mFRR platform is operational since October 2022.

ACER Decision 03/2020 - 24/01/2020
24/07/2022
ACER Decision 14/2022 - 30/09/2022
30/09/2022

The aFRR platform is operational since June 2022.

ACER Decision 02/2020 - 24/01/2020
24/07/2022
ACER Decision 15/2022 - 30/09/2022
30/09/2022

The European platform for imbalance netting process is operational.

ACER Decision 13/2020 - 24/06/2020
24/06/2021
ACER Decision 16/2022 - 30/09/2022
30/09/2022

Not all TSOs intend to use standard balancing capacity products.

ACER Decision 11/2020 - 17/06/2020
17/12/2021

Each TSO should implement this classification methodology, once they join the respective European platform.

ACER Decision 16/2020 - 15/07/2020
Dependent on each TSO

Each TSO should implement this methodology once they join the respective European platform for the exchange of balancing energy. The European platform for the exchange of balancing energy form replacement reserves applied a different pricing methodology (as it became operation before the ACER Decision 01/2020). However, the TSOs using this platform should implement this methodology by 1st July 2022.

ACER Decision 01/2020 - 24/01/2020
01/07/2022
ACER Decision 03/2022 - 25/02/2022
02/07/2022

Implementation has not started yet.

ACER Decision 11/2023 - 19/07/2023
31/07/2025 at the latest

The implementation is on-going. An amendment to the single day-ahead coupling algorithm methodology (Article 37 of the Capacity Allocation and Congestion Management Regulation) is expected by mid-2024, which aims to further specify the necessary steps towards a full implementation.

ACER Decision 12/2020 - 17/06/2020
17/12/2021

Each TSO shall apply the relevant provisions of the common settlement rules once they participate in the European balancing platform for the exchange of balancing energy or the operation of the imbalance netting process. The TSOs participating in the replacement reserve platform shall implement and apply these common settlement rules by 1st July 2022.

ACER Decision 17/2020 - 15/07/2020
01/07/2022
22/05/2021
 - 
22/05/2020
04/12/2020
 - 
04/12/2019
ACER Decision 18/2020 - 15/07/2020
15/01/2022

Explore the 2024 ISH implementation monitoring dashboard.

Regional Methodologies

Regional Methodologies are developed by relevant TSOs or NEMOs at a regional level. These regions may span multiple countries or specific geographical areas within the EU and are tailored to address the needs and dynamics of the defined areas. 

Establishment of common and harmonised rules and processes for the exchange and procurement of balancing capacity

The FCR Cooperation is operational and expanding.

01/07/2020
 - 
28/11/2018
ACER Decision 19/2020 - 05/08/2020
05/08/2021

Implementation has not started yet.

Exemption from the obligation to allow balancing service providers to transfer their obligations to provide balancing capacity

The FCR Cooperation is operational and expanding.

01/07/2019
 - 
28/11/2018
ACER Decision 20/2020 - 05/08/2020
05/08/2021

Implementation has not started yet.

Cross-zonal capacity calculation methodology for the balancing timeframe

Implementation has not started yet.

11/06/2023

Implementation has not started yet.

Implementation has not started yet.

Implementation has not started yet.

Implementation has not started yet.

Implementation has not started yet.

Implementation has not started yet.

Implementation has not started yet.

Methodology on the application of market-based allocation process of cross-zonal capacity for the exchange of balancing capacity

Nordic market-based allocation process is operational on the specified bidding zone borders.

ACER Decision 21/2020 - 05/08/2020
05/08/2021

Methodology for a market-based allocation process of cross-zonal capacity for the exchange of balancing capacity or sharing of reserves

Methodology was approved but implementation was not followed up: no implementation foreseen so far.

ACER Decision 11/2021 - 13/08/2021
13/08/2023

Implemented and operational on most bidding zone borders of the Nordic CCR.

ACER Decision 22/2020 - 05/08/2020
05/08/2021

Implementation is to take place upon synchronisation with Continental Europe. Synchronisation expected by 2025.

ACER Decision 10/2021 - 13/08/2021

Methodology was approved; no application or implementation foreseen so far.

07/07/2020
 - 
07/07/2020

Methodology was approved; no application or implementation foreseen so far.

23/07/2022
 - 
23/07/2020

Methodology for an allocation process of cross zonal capacity for the exchange of balancing capacity or sharing of reserves based on economic efficiency analysis

No implementation foreseen.

Common settlement rules for intended exchanges of energy as a result of the frequency containment process and ramping period

The approved rules are implemented.

27/05/2021
 - 
27/05/2020

The approved rules are implemented.

31/03/2021
 - 
31/03/2020

The approved rules are implemented.

Common settlement rules for all unintended exchanges of energy

The rules are implemented.

27/05/2021
 - 
27/05/2020

The rules are implemented.

without undue delay
 - 
15/06/2020

The rules are implemented.

31/03/2021
 - 
31/03/2020

Latest monitoring dashboard