We strengthen market integration. Information on VIP formation and the dual system.

As described in the market information of May 2018, it is not possible establishing a VIP between NCG and the Market area East including the points Oberkappel and Überackern. Following a written request by the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA), the TSOs GRTgaz Deutschland and Open Grid Europe have decided to establish a VIP only at Oberkappel on the German side.

The TSOs will thus establish the VIP NCG Oberkappel on the German side of said interconnection point on 1 March 2019. This implementation date has been communicated to Gas Connect Austria and the BNetzA.

Further details regarding the implementation of this VIP (e.g. EIC code) are available under the download section. The TSOs underline that the changes due to the VIP establishment only affect the German side of the cross-border interconnection point.

Due to the uncertainties regarding the VIP establishment as well as the risks involved, the TSOs were for a long time unable to initiate the adaptations to the core processes and IT systems required for VIP implementation. The implementation of VIPs has implications for the whole complex IT landscape of the TSOs. In particular time-critical, highly-available systems and processes like nomination and grid steering systems are affected. Due to the criticality of these systems and processes a comprehensive quality assurance is imperative.

Therefore, the TSOs will establish the VIP France-Germany and the VIP Waidhaus NCG by 1 March 2019. This implementation date has been coordinated with the adjacent TSOs, and the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) has been informed accordingly.

Start of capacity marketing at the VIP: 

The marketing of capacities at the VIP began in the day-ahead auction on 28 February 2019 for the gas day 1 March 2019.

Fees at the VIP:

With regard to VIP charges, the TSOs refer to the price sheets of the VIP TSOs NET4GAS, GRTgaz, GRTgaz Deutschland and OGE.

The VIP L GASPOOL-NCG was established by 1. November 2018. Due to the fact that this VIP only involved Open Grid Europe on the NCG side of the border, the implementation of this VIP was relatively easy and the establishment was therefore be compelted by 1 November 2018. Also on the Gaspool side, due to the lower complexity (transfer of new “existing contracts” to the VIP by Nowega and GUD) the establishment of the VIP L GASPOOL-NCG by 1.11.2018 was successfully completed on 1 November 2018.
 

EIC Code of "VIP L GASPOOL-NCG": 37Z000000007353T

Start of capacity marketing at the VIP: The marketing of capacities at the VIP began with the day-ahead auction on 31 October 2018 for the gas day 1 November 2018.

VIP tariffs: With regard to VIP tariffs, the TSOs refer to the price sheets of the VIP TSOs NOWEGA and OGE.

The implementation of the VIPs had an impact on the entire complex IT landscape of the VIP partners. Especially time-critical, highly available systems and processes such as nomination and network control systems were affected. Due to the criticality of these systems and processes and the mutual dependencies between the IT systems of the TSOs, extensive quality assurance was imperative. This required more time than originally expected.

The TSOs were therefore able to set up the VIP Belgium-NCG and the VIP Germany-CH on 1 July 2019 and from then on to market capacity only at the VIP. In order to allow our customers to book VIP capacities at an early stage, capacities were only marketed at the VIP in the following auctions:

• Quarterly auctions in May 2019 for the shipping period from 1 July to 1 October 2019
• Monthly auctions in June 2019 for the shipping period July 2019
• Annual auctions in July 2019 for the shipping period GY 2019/2020 and thereafter.
• Day Ahead/Within Day auctions starting on 30 June 2019 for the shipping period starting on 1 July 2019 

This procedure has been coordinated with the adjacent TSOs and the regulator (BNetzA) has been informed accordingly.

Further details regarding the implementation of these VIPs (e.g. EIC codes) were also communicated to the market by the TSOs with sufficient advance notice. The participating TSOs would like to point out once again that no major changes in the process are to be expected for shippers. This applies in particular to shippers who are already active at the relevant IPs. Since VIP management at the Belgium-NCG and the Germany-CH VIPs will be carried out by Open Grid and Europe Fluxys TENP (as VIP TSOs), respectively, and the current processes remain largely unchanged, the shippers’ obligation to cooperate prior to network use will be limited to registering with the VIP TSO via the capacity platform PRISMA, if they have not already registered with this TSO, and to completing a communication test. This registration is already possible now. The respective VIP TSO will allow sufficient time for registration and interface setup.

We are glad to inform you that the above-mentioned VIPs will be implemented on April 1st, 2020, 6 a.m. The first marketing of capacities for these VIPs will start with the monthly auction for April 2020 on March 16th, 2020. 
With the implementation of VIPs between the Netherlands and NCG, no capacity will be offered at the above-mentioned IPs as of April 1st, 2020. The last capacity auctions for these IPs will be the day-ahead auction and the within-day auctions on March 30th/31st, 2020 for March 31st, 2020. Contracts already concluded at the above-mentioned IPs will remain valid. For transportation periods on/after April 1st, 2020, 6 a.m., all capacity contracts will have to be concluded at the corresponding VIPs.  
Therefore, we kindly ask you to ensure that the following codes are used for your nomina-tions: