Subject matter and scope
1. This Regulation establishes a network code which sets out rules regarding interoperability and data exchange as well as harmonised rules for the operation of gas transmission systems.
2. This Regulation shall apply at interconnection points. With regard to data publication, Article 13 shall apply to relevant points defined in paragraph 3.2 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 715/2009. In addition to interconnection points, Article 17 shall apply to other points on transmission network where the gas quality is measured. Article 18 shall apply to transmission systems. This Regulation may also apply at entry points from and exit points to third countries, subject to the decision of the national authorities.
3. This Regulation shall not apply to interconnection points between Member States as long as one of these Member States holds a derogation on the basis of Article 49 of Directive 2009/73/EC, unless agreed otherwise by the respective Member States.
Definitions
For the purposes of this Regulation, the definitions in Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 715/2009, Article 3 of Commission Regulation (EU) No 984/2013 ( 5 ) , Article 3 of Commission Regulation (EU) No 312/2014 ( 6 ) as well as in Article 2 of Directive 2009/73/EC shall apply. In addition, the following definitions shall apply:
(a)
‘exceptional event’ means any unplanned event that is not reasonably controllable or preventable and that may cause, for a limited period, capacity reductions, affecting thereby the quantity or quality of gas at a given interconnection point, with possible consequences on interactions between transmission system operators as well as between transmission system operator and network users;
(b)
‘initiating transmission system operator’ means the transmission system operator initiating the matching process by sending the necessary data to the matching transmission system operator;
(c)
‘lesser rule’ means that, in case of different processed quantities at either side of an interconnection point, the confirmed quantity will be equal to the lower of the two processed quantities.
(d)
‘matching process’ is the process of comparing and aligning processed quantities of gas for network users at both sides of a specific interconnection point, which results in confirmed quantities for the network users;
(e)
‘matching transmission system operator’ means the transmission system operator performing the matching process and sending the result of the matching process to the initiating transmission system operator;
(f)
‘measured quantity’ means the quantity of gas that, according to the measurement equipment from the transmission system operator, has physically flowed across an interconnection point per time period;
(g)
‘operational balancing account’ means an account between adjacent transmission system operators, to be used to manage steering differences at an interconnection point in order to simplify gas accounting for network users involved at the interconnection point;
(h)
‘processed quantity’ means the quantity of gas determined by the initiating transmission system operator and by the matching transmission system operator, which takes into account the network user's nomination or re-nomination and contractual provisions as defined under the relevant transport contract and which is used as the basis for the matching process;
(i)
‘steering difference’ means the difference between the quantity of gas that the transmission system operators had scheduled to flow and the measured quantity for an interconnection point.
