Tasks

Energiekamer expanded its field of activity in 2001. To ensure a proper fulfilment of its tasks, Energiekamer adapted its organisational structure. Energiekamer consists of four Units:

• Consumer Market
• Network Companies
• Wholesale Market
• Supervision

plus two supporting services:

• Information Management & Administration
• Audit.

With regard to the enforcement of the Electricity Act 1998 and the Gas Act, Energiekamer was specifically charged with the following tasks:

·     To issue supply permits for the supply of electricity or gas to captive consumers   and small-scale users respectively;

·     To determine the tariff structures and conditions for the transmission of electricity;

·     To determine guidelines for tariffs and conditions with regard to access to gas transmission pipelines and gas storage installations and, if necessary, to issue binding instructions;

·     To determine connection, transmission and supply tariffs for electricity, including the discount (price cap) aimed at promoting the efficient operation of the electricity grid operators;

·     To determine transmission and supply tariffs for gas, including the discount (price cap) aimed at promoting the efficient operation of the gas network operators;

·     To assess every other year whether operators sufficiently/ efficiently meet the total supply demand for transmission capacity, as calculated on the basis of estimates submitted by the network operators;

·     To assess every other year whether licence holders sufficiently/ efficiently meet demands, as calculated on the basis of estimates of the total supply demand of captive consumers, submitted by the relevant license holders;

·     To supervise compliance with the Electricity Act 1998 and the Gas Act;

·     To monitor developments in the markets for gas and electricity closely, with a view to transparency, non-discrimination, competition and effective market operations;

·     To advise the Minister of Economic Affairs on applications for approval with regard to instructions issued by an electricity/gas network operator; 

·     To advise the Minister of Economic Affairs on applications for exemption from the statutory appointment of an electricity network operator;