Congestion management
Targeted congestion management is a key priority for Swissgrid in line with its legal responsibility for reliable grid operation.
Congestion occurs when, due to the outage of network elements, the demand for cross-border trading capacities or for transport capacities for power plant output cannot be fully met. Congestion management involves preventive measures to manage the limited transmission capacity available. To avoid congestion, Swissgrid has the right to take special measures. Technical and economic measures are the tools used to prevent congestion. Such corrective measures are taken in order to keep the transmission grid stable and within load limits, and to avoid disruption in the interests of all customers.
Auctions
Why are auctions necessary?
Among other things, the new Electricity Supply Act requires congestion in the cross-border network to be managed by allocating network capacities according to a market-oriented allocation procedure, i.e. by means of auctions. Since the second internal electricity market directive and the regulation on cross-border trade in electricity (EG-VO 1228/03) also provide for congestion management, market-based procedures, i.e. auctions, have been held for some time across Europe. Due to the advanced stage of liberalisation of the EU electricity market and the increase in cross-border energy flows throughout Europe, it is necessary to introduce a transparent, non-discriminatory system of congestion management at Swiss borders with other countries. This will make an important contribution to ensuring network security and the security of supply in Switzerland.
Auction rules
These Auction Rules govern the terms and conditions for the auctioning of available transfer capacity, commonly for the regions of CWE, CSE and Switzerland. The relevant version of the Auction Rules are published on the JAO S.A. website.
Switzerland – Germany
Explicit yearly, monthly and daily auctions
In the cross-border transmission system between Switzerland and Germany, the available grid capacities are distributed by the responsible Transmission System Operators TransnetBW, Amprion GmbH and Swissgrid via auctions. The Allocation Office JAO S.A. performs auctions.
Intraday allocations
Intraday capacity allocation is carried out in addition to the daily, monthly and yearly auction. Market participants can request available intraday transport capacity on the ENTSO-E Transparency platform. Assignment takes place by means of continuous explicit allocation according to the «first come first served» approach.
The Intraday allocation rules for Switzerland – Germany can be found on the TransnetBW website.
Switzerland – France
Explicit yearly, monthly and daily auctions
RTE and Swissgrid have assigned the Allocation Office JAO S.A. to auction the available cross-border transmission grid capacities between Switzerland and France.
Intraday allocations
Intraday capacity allocation is carried out in addition to the daily, monthly and yearly auction. Market participants can request available intraday transport capacity on the platform Intraday Capacity Service. Assignment takes place by means of continuous explicit allocation according to the «first come first served» approach.
The Intraday allocation rules for Switzerland – France can be found on the RTE website.
Switzerland – Italy
Explicit yearly, monthly, daily and intraday auctions
In the cross-border transmission system between Switzerland and Italy, the available grid capacities are distributed by Rete Elettrica Nazionale SpA (Terna) and Swissgrid. This is done using auctions. The Allocation Office JAO S.A. performs auctions.
Switzerland – Austria
Explicit yearly, monthly and daily auctions
In the cross-border transmission system between Austria and Switzerland, the available grid capacities are distributed by VERBUND-Austrian Power Grid AG (APG) and Swissgrid. This is done using auctions. The Allocation Office JAO S.A. performs auctions.
Intraday allocations
Intraday capacity allocation is carried out in addition to the daily, monthly and yearly auction. Market participants can request available intraday transport capacity on the platform Intraday Capacity Service. Assignment takes place by means of continuous explicit allocation according to the «first come first served» approach.