Directive (EU) 2024/1788 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on common rules for the internal markets for renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen, amending Directive (EU) 2023/1791 and repealing Directive 2009/73/EC (recast) (Text with EEA relevance)

• CELEX: Directive (EU) 2024/1788
• Articles: 101

Article 1 Subject matter and scope

1.   This Directive establishes a common framework for the decarbonisation of the markets for natural gas and hydrogen, in order to contribute to the achievement of the Union’s climate and energy targets.

2.   This Directive establishes common rules for the transmission, distribution, supply and storage of natural gas using the natural gas system, and consumer protection provisions, with a view to creating an integrated, competitive and transparent market for natural gas in the Union. It lays down the rules relating to the organisation and functioning of that sector, access to the market, the criteria and procedures applicable to the granting of authorisations for transmission, distribution, supply and storage of natural gas using the natural gas system and the operation of that system.

3.   This Directive establishes common rules for the transport, supply and storage of natural gas and the transition of the natural gas system towards an integrated and highly efficient system based on renewable gas and low-carbon gas.

4.   This Directive establishes common rules for the transport, supply and storage of hydrogen using the hydrogen system. It lays down rules relating to the organisation and functioning of that sector, access to the market, the criteria and procedures applicable to the granting of authorisations for networks, supply and storage of hydrogen and the operation of that system.

5.   This Directive establishes rules for the progressive establishment of a Union-wide interconnected hydrogen system contributing to the long-term flexibility of the electricity system and to the reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions of hard-to-decarbonise sectors taking into account the greenhouse gas abatement potential and the energy and cost-efficiency in relation to other options and thereby supporting the decarbonisation of the Union energy system.

Article 2 Definitions

For the purposes of this Directive, the following definitions apply:

(1)

‘natural gas’ means gas that primarily consists of methane, including biomethane, or other types of gas, that can technically and safely be injected into, and transported through, the natural gas system;

(2)

‘renewable gas’ means biogas as defined in Article 2, point (28), of Directive (EU) 2018/2001including biogas that has been upgraded to biomethane, and renewable fuels of non-biological origin as defined in Article 2, point (36), of that Directive;

(3)

‘natural gas system’ means a system of infrastructure, including pipelines, liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals and natural gas storage facilities, which transports natural gas;

(4)

‘hydrogen system’ means a system of infrastructure, including hydrogen networks, hydrogen storage and hydrogen terminals, which contains hydrogen of a high grade of purity;

(5)

‘hydrogen storage facility’ means a facility used for the stocking of hydrogen of a high grade of purity:

(a)

including the part of a hydrogen terminal used for storage but excluding the part used for production operations and facilities reserved exclusively for hydrogen network operators in carrying out their functions;

(b)

including large, in particular underground, hydrogen storage but excluding smaller, easily replicable hydrogen storage installations;

(6)

‘hydrogen storage operator’ means a natural or legal person that carries out the function of storage of hydrogen and is responsible for operating a hydrogen storage facility;

(7)

‘hydrogen linepack’ means the storage of hydrogen of a high grade of purity by compression in hydrogen networks, excluding facilities reserved for hydrogen network operators carrying out their functions;

(8)

‘hydrogen terminal’ means an installation used for the offloading and transformation of liquid hydrogen or liquid ammonia into gaseous hydrogen for injection into the hydrogen network or the natural gas system or the liquefaction of gaseous hydrogen and its onloading, including ancillary services and temporary storage necessary for the transformation process and subsequent injection into the hydrogen network, but not any part of the hydrogen terminal used for storage;

(9)

‘hydrogen terminal operator’ means a natural or legal person that carries out the function of offloading and transformation of liquid hydrogen or liquid ammonia into gaseous hydrogen for injection into the hydrogen network or the natural gas system or the liquefaction and onloading of gaseous hydrogen and is responsible for operating a hydrogen terminal;

(10)

‘hydrogen quality’ means hydrogen purity and contaminants in line with applicable hydrogen quality standards for the hydrogen system;

(11)

‘low-carbon hydrogen’ means hydrogen the energy content of which is derived from non-renewable sources, which meets the greenhouse gas emission reduction threshold of 70 % compared to the fossil fuel comparator for renewable fuels of non-biological origin set out in the methodology for assessing greenhouse gas emissions savings from renewable fuels of non-biological origin and from recycled carbon fuels, adopted pursuant to Article 29a(3) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001;

(12)

‘low-carbon gas’ means the part of gaseous fuels in recycled carbon fuels as defined in Article 2, point (35), of Directive (EU) 2018/2001, low-carbon hydrogen and synthetic gaseous fuels the energy content of which is derived from low-carbon hydrogen, that meet the greenhouse gas emission reduction threshold of 70 % compared to the fossil fuel comparator for renewable fuels of non-biological origin set out in the methodology adopted pursuant to Article 29a(3) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001;

(13)

‘low-carbon fuels’ means recycled carbon fuels as defined in Article 2, point (35), of Directive (EU) 2018/2001, low-carbon hydrogen and synthetic gaseous and liquid fuels the energy content of which is derived from low-carbon hydrogen, that meet the greenhouse gas emission reduction threshold of 70 % compared to the fossil fuel comparator for renewable fuels of non-biological origin set out in the methodology adopted pursuant to Article 29a(3) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001;

(14)

‘hydrogen undertaking’ means a natural or legal person that carries out at least one of the following functions: production, transport, supply, purchase or storage of hydrogen or operation of a hydrogen terminal, and that is responsible for the commercial, technical or maintenance tasks related to those functions, excluding final customers;

(15)

‘natural gas undertaking’ means a natural or legal person that carries out production, transmission, distribution, supply, purchase or storage of natural gas, including LNG, and which is responsible for the commercial, technical or maintenance tasks related to those functions, excluding final customers;

(16)

‘upstream pipeline network’ means any pipeline or network of pipelines operated or constructed as part of an oil or natural gas production project, or used to convey natural gas from one or more such projects to a processing plant or terminal or final coastal landing terminal;

(17)

‘transmission’ means the transport of natural gas through a network, which mainly contains high-pressure pipelines, other than an upstream pipeline network and other than the part of high-pressure pipelines primarily used in the context of local distribution of natural gas, with a view to its delivery to customers, excluding supply;

(18)

‘transmission system operator’ means a natural or legal person that carries out the function of transmission and is responsible for operating, ensuring the maintenance of and, if necessary, developing the transmission system in a given area and, where applicable, its interconnections with other systems, and for ensuring the long-term ability of the system to meet reasonable demands for the transport of natural gas;

(19)

‘distribution’ means the transport of natural gas through local or regional pipeline networks with a view to its delivery to customers, excluding supply;

(20)

‘distribution system operator’ means a natural or legal person that carries out the function of distribution of natural gas and is responsible for operating, ensuring the maintenance of and, if necessary, developing the distribution system in a given area and, where applicable, its interconnections with other systems, and for ensuring the long-term ability of the system to meet reasonable demands for the distribution of natural gas;

(21)

‘hydrogen network’ means a network of onshore and offshore pipelines used for the transport of hydrogen of a high grade of purity with a view to its delivery to customers, excluding supply;

(22)

‘hydrogen transport’ means the transmission or distribution of hydrogen through a hydrogen network with a view to its delivery to customers, excluding supply;

(23)

‘hydrogen transmission network’ means a network of pipelines for the transport of hydrogen of a high grade of purity, in particular a network which includes hydrogen interconnectors or which is directly connected to hydrogen storage, hydrogen terminals or two or more hydrogen interconnectors or which primarily serves the purpose of transporting hydrogen to other hydrogen networks, hydrogen storage or hydrogen terminals, without excluding the possibility of such networks to serve the purpose of supplying directly connected customers;

(24)

‘hydrogen distribution network’ means a network of pipelines for the local or regional transport of hydrogen of a high grade of purity, which primarily serves the purpose of supplying directly connected customers and does not include hydrogen interconnectors, and which is not directly connected to hydrogen storage facilities or hydrogen terminals, unless the network in question was a natural gas distribution system on 4 August 2024 and has been partially or fully repurposed for the transport of hydrogen, or to two or more hydrogen interconnectors;

(25)

‘hydrogen network operator’ means a natural or legal person that carries out the function of hydrogen transport and is responsible for operating, ensuring the maintenance of and, if necessary, developing the hydrogen network in a given area and, where applicable, its interconnections with other hydrogen networks, and for ensuring the long-term ability of the system to meet reasonable demands for the transport of hydrogen;

(26)

‘hydrogen transmission network operator’ means a natural or legal person that is responsible for operating, ensuring the maintenance of and, if necessary, developing a hydrogen transmission network in a given area and, where applicable, its interconnections with other hydrogen networks, and for ensuring the long-term ability of the network to meet reasonable demands for hydrogen transport;

(27)

‘hydrogen distribution network operator’ means a natural or legal person that is responsible for operating, ensuring the maintenance of and, if necessary, developing a hydrogen distribution network in a given area and, where applicable, its interconnections with other hydrogen networks, and for ensuring the long-term ability of the network to meet reasonable demands for hydrogen transport;

(28)

‘supply’ means the sale, including resale, of natural gas, including LNG, or hydrogen, including in the form of liquid organic hydrogen carriers or liquid hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives including ammonia or methanol to customers;

(29)

‘supply undertaking’ means any natural or legal person that carries out the function of supply;

(30)

‘supplier of last resort’ means a supplier who is designated to take over the supply of natural gas to customers of a supplier which has ceased to operate;

(31)

‘natural gas storage facility’ means a facility used for the stocking of natural gas and owned or operated by a natural gas undertaking, including the part of LNG facilities used for natural gas storage, excluding the portion used for production operations, and excluding facilities reserved exclusively for transmission system operators in carrying out their functions;

(32)

‘natural gas storage system operator’ means a natural or legal person that carries out the function of storage of natural gas and is responsible for operating a natural gas storage facility;

(33)

‘LNG facility’ means a terminal which is used for the liquefaction of natural gas or the importation, offloading, and re-gasification of LNG, including ancillary services and temporary storage necessary for the re-gasification process and subsequent delivery to the transmission system, excluding any part of LNG terminals used for storage;

(34)

‘LNG system operator’ means a natural or legal person that carries out the function of liquefaction of natural gas, or the importation, offloading and re-gasification of LNG and is responsible for operating a LNG facility;

(35)

‘system’ means any transmission networks, distribution networks, LNG facilities or natural gas storage facilities owned or operated by a natural gas undertaking, including linepack and its facilities supplying ancillary services and those of related undertakings necessary for providing access to transmission, distribution and LNG;

(36)

‘ancillary services’ means all services necessary for access to and the operation of transmission networks, distribution networks, LNG facilities or natural gas storage facilities, including load balancing, blending and injection of inert gas, excluding facilities reserved exclusively for transmission system operators carrying out their functions;

(37)

‘natural gas linepack’ means the storage of natural gas by compression in transmission and distribution systems, excluding facilities reserved for transmission system operators carrying out their functions;

(38)

‘interconnected system’ means a number of systems which are linked with each other;

(39)

‘interconnector’ means a transmission line which crosses or spans a border between Member States for the purpose of connecting the national transmission system of those Member States or a transmission line between a Member State and a third country up to the territory of the Member States or the territorial sea of that Member State;

(40)

‘hydrogen interconnector’ means a hydrogen network which crosses or spans a border between Member States for the purpose of connecting the national hydrogen networks of those Member States, or a hydrogen network between a Member State and a third country up to the territory of the Member States or the territorial sea of that Member State;

(41)

‘direct line’ means a natural gas pipeline complementary to the interconnected system;

(42)

‘integrated natural gas undertaking’ means a vertically or horizontally integrated undertaking;

(43)

‘vertically integrated undertaking’ means a natural gas undertaking or a group of natural gas undertakings or a hydrogen undertaking or group of hydrogen undertakings where the same person or the same persons are entitled, directly or indirectly, to exercise control, and where the undertaking or group of undertakings perform at least one of the functions of transmission, distribution, hydrogen transport, hydrogen terminal operation, LNG or natural gas or hydrogen storage, and at least one of the functions of production or supply of natural gas or of hydrogen;

(44)

‘horizontally integrated undertaking’ means an undertaking that performs at least one of the functions of production, transmission, distribution, supply or storage of natural gas, as well as a non-natural gas activity;

(45)

‘related undertaking’ means an affiliated undertaking as defined in Article 2, point (12), of Directive 2013/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council  ( 38 ) , or an undertaking which belongs to the same shareholders;

(46)

‘system user’ means a natural or legal person supplying natural gas or hydrogen to, or being supplied by, the system;

(47)

‘customer’ means a wholesale or final customer of natural gas or hydrogen or a natural gas or hydrogen undertaking which purchases natural gas or hydrogen;

(48)

‘household customer’ means a customer purchasing natural gas or hydrogen for customer’s own household consumption;

(49)

‘non-household customer’ means a customer purchasing natural gas or hydrogen which are not for his or her own household use;

(50)

‘final customer’ means a customer purchasing natural gas or hydrogen for customer’s own use;

(51)

‘wholesale customer’ means a natural or legal person other than a transmission system operator or distribution system operator who purchases natural gas or hydrogen for the purpose of resale inside or outside the system where the person is established;

(52)

‘microenterprise’, ‘small enterprise’ or ‘medium-sized enterprise’ means a microenterprise, a small enterprise or a medium-sized enterprise as defined in Article 2 of the Annex to Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC  ( 39 ) ;

(53)

‘gas supply contract’ means a contract for the supply of natural gas or hydrogen, excluding a natural gas derivative;

(54)

‘natural gas derivative’ means a financial instrument specified in Section C, point 5, 6 or 7, of Annex I to Directive 2014/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council  ( 40 ) , where that financial instrument relates to natural gas;

(55)

‘control’ means any rights, contracts or any other means which, either separately or in combination and having regard to the considerations of fact or law involved, confer the possibility of exercising decisive influence on an undertaking, in particular by:

(a)

ownership or the right to use all or part of the assets of an undertaking;

(b)

rights or contracts which confer decisive influence on the composition, voting or decisions of the organs of an undertaking;

(56)

‘long-term contract’ means a gas supply contract exceeding one year;

(57)

‘entry-exit system’ means an access model for natural gas or hydrogen where system users book capacity rights independently on entry and exit points, that includes the transmission system and may include the whole or part of the distribution system, or hydrogen networks;

(58)

‘balancing zone’ means a system to which a specific balancing regime is applicable, that includes the transmission system and may include the whole or part of distribution systems;

(59)

‘virtual trading point’ means a non-physical commercial point within an entry-exit system where natural gas or hydrogen are exchanged between a seller and a buyer without the need to book capacity;

(60)

‘network user’ means a customer or a potential customer of a system operator or a system operator itself in so far as it is necessary for that system operator to carry out its functions in relation to transport of natural gas or hydrogen;

(61)

‘entry point’ means a point subject to booking procedures by network users providing access to an entry-exit system;

(62)

‘exit point’ means a point subject to booking procedures by network users enabling gas flows out of the entry-exit system;

(63)

‘interconnection point’ means a physical or virtual point connecting adjacent entry-exit systems or connecting an entry-exit system with an interconnector, in so far as such a point is subject to booking procedures by network users;

(64)

‘virtual interconnection point’ means two or more interconnection points which connect the same two adjacent entry-exit systems, integrated together for the purposes of providing a single-capacity service;

(65)

‘market participant’ means a natural or legal person that buys, sells or produces natural gas or hydrogen or that is an operator of storage services including through the placing of orders to trade in one or more markets for natural gas or hydrogen including balancing markets;

(66)

‘contract termination fee’ means a charge or penalty imposed on customers by suppliers or market participants for terminating a gas supply or service contract;

(67)

‘switching-related fee’ means a charge or penalty for changing suppliers or market participants, including contract termination fees, that is directly or indirectly imposed on customers by suppliers, market participants or system operators;

(68)

‘billing information’ means the information provided on a final customer’s bill, apart from a request for payment;

(69)

‘conventional meter’ means an analogue or electronic meter with no capability to both transmit and receive data;

(70)

‘smart metering system’ means an electronic system that is capable of measuring natural gas or hydrogen fed into the grid or natural gas or hydrogen consumed from the grid, providing more information than a conventional meter, and that is capable of transmitting and receiving data for information, monitoring and control purposes, using a form of electronic communication;

(71)

‘interoperability’ means, in the context of smart metering, the ability of two or more energy or communication networks, systems, devices, applications or components to interwork to exchange and use information in order to perform required functions;

(72)

‘most recent available’ means, in the context of smart metering data, that it is provided within a period matching the shortest settlement period in the national market;

(73)

‘best available techniques’ means, in the context of data protection and security in a smart metering environment, the most effective, advanced and practically suitable techniques for providing, in principle, the basis for complying with the Union data protection and security rules;

(74)

‘energy poverty’ means energy poverty as defined in Article 2, point (52), of Directive (EU) 2023/1791;

(75)

‘active customer’ means a final customer of natural gas, or a group of jointly acting final customers of natural gas, that:

(a)

consumes or stores renewable gas which is produced:

(i)

within its premises located within confined boundaries; or

(ii)

where permitted by the Member State concerned, within other premises;

(b)

provided that its activities do not constitute the final customer’s primary commercial or professional activity and comply with the law applicable to renewable gas production, in particular in relation to greenhouse gas emissions:

(i)

sells self-produced renewable gas using the natural gas system; or

(ii)

participates in flexibility or participates in energy efficiency schemes;

(76)

‘energy efficiency first’ means energy efficiency first as defined in Article 2, point (18), of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999;

(77)

‘repurposing’ means repurposing as defined in Article 2, point (18), of Regulation (EU) 2022/869 of the European Parliament and of the Council  ( 41 ) .

Article 3 Competitive, customer-centred, flexible and non-discriminatory markets for natural gas and hydrogen

1.   Member States shall ensure that all customers are free to purchase natural gas and hydrogen from the supplier of their choice and shall ensure that all customers are free to have more than one supply contract for natural gas or hydrogen at the same time, provided that the required connection and metering points are established.

2.   Member States shall ensure that their national law does not unduly hamper cross-border trade in natural gas and hydrogen, the functioning and emergence of liquid trading for natural gas and hydrogen, consumer participation, investments into, in particular, renewable gas and low-carbon gas, or energy storage between Member States, and shall ensure that prices for natural gas and hydrogen reflect actual demand and supply.

3.   Member States shall ensure that no undue barriers exist within the internal markets for natural gas and hydrogen as regards market entry and exit, trading and operation.

4.   Member States and regulatory authorities shall ensure that energy undertakings are subject to transparent, proportionate and non-discriminatory rules, fees and treatment, in particular with regard to connection to the network, access to wholesale markets, access to data, switching processes and billing regimes and, where applicable, licensing.

5.   Member States shall ensure that market participants from third countries, when operating within the internal markets for natural gas and hydrogen, comply with applicable Union and national law, including that relating to environment and safety.

6.   Member States shall ensure a customer-centred and energy efficient approach in the market for hydrogen. The use of hydrogen shall be targeted for customers in hard-to-decarbonise sectors with a high greenhouse gas abatement potential where no more energy and cost-efficient options are available.

7.   Member States shall ensure that this Directive is implemented in a manner which fosters energy system integration while not unduly discriminating against more energy efficient solutions, such as direct electrification, in line with the energy efficiency first principle.

Article 4 Market-based supply prices

1.   Suppliers shall be free to determine the price at which they supply natural gas and hydrogen to customers. Member States shall take appropriate actions to ensure effective competition between suppliers and to ensure reasonable prices for the final customers.

2.   Member States shall ensure the protection of customers affected by energy poverty and vulnerable household customers pursuant to Articles 26 to 29 by social policy or by other means than public interventions in the price setting for the supply of natural gas and hydrogen.

3.   By way of derogation from paragraphs 1 and 2, Member States may apply public interventions in the price setting for the supply of natural gas to customers affected by energy poverty or vulnerable household customers. Such public interventions shall be subject to the conditions set out in paragraphs 4 and 5.

4.   Public interventions in the price setting for the supply of natural gas shall:

(a)

pursue a general economic interest and not go beyond what is necessary to achieve that general economic interest;

(b)

be clearly defined, transparent, non-discriminatory and verifiable;

(c)

guarantee equal access for Union natural gas undertakings to customers;

(d)

be limited in time and proportionate as regards their beneficiaries;

(e)

not result in additional costs for market participants in a discriminatory way;

(f)

not hamper the gradual and timely phase-out of fossil gas in order to reach the Union 2030 climate target and climate-neutrality objective set out in Regulation (EU) 2021/1119.

5.   Any Member State applying public interventions in the price setting for the supply of natural gas in accordance with paragraph 3 of this Article shall also comply with Article 3(3), point (d), and Article 24 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999, regardless of whether the Member State concerned has a significant number of household customers affected by energy poverty. Prior to the removal of public interventions in the price setting for the supply of natural gas, Member States shall ensure adequate support measures for customers affected by energy poverty and vulnerable household customers in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article.

6.   In order to establish effective competition for natural gas supply contracts between suppliers, and to achieve fully effective market-based and affordable retail pricing of natural gas in accordance with paragraph 1, Member States may, for a transitional period, apply public interventions in the price setting for the supply of natural gas to household customers that do not benefit from public interventions pursuant to paragraph 3, and to microenterprises.

7.   Public interventions pursuant to paragraph 6 shall comply with the criteria set out in paragraph 4 and shall:

(a)

be accompanied by a set of measures to achieve effective competition and a methodology for assessing progress with regard to those measures;

(b)

be set using a methodology that ensures non-discriminatory treatment of suppliers;

(c)

be set at a price that is above cost, at a level where effective price competition can occur;

(d)

be designed to minimise any negative impact on the wholesale market for natural gas;

(e)

ensure that all beneficiaries of such public interventions have the possibility to choose competitive market offers and are directly informed at least every quarter of the availability of offers and savings in the competitive market, and shall ensure that they are provided with assistance to switch to a market-based offer;

(f)

ensure, in the case the Member State proceeds with the deployment of smart metering systems in accordance with Article 17, that all beneficiaries of such public interventions are directly informed of the possibility of installing smart meters and are provided with necessary assistance;

(g)

not lead to direct cross-subsidisation between customers supplied at free market prices and those supplied at regulated supply prices.

8.   Member States shall notify the measures taken in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 6 to the Commission within one month after their adoption and may apply them immediately. The notification shall be accompanied by an explanation of why other instruments were not sufficient to achieve the objective pursued, of how the requirements set out in paragraphs 4, 5 and 7 are fulfilled and of the effects of the notified measures on competition. The notification shall describe the scope of the beneficiaries, in particular customers affected by energy poverty and vulnerable household customers, as well as potential other beneficiaries, the duration of the measures and the number of household customers affected by the measures, and shall explain how the regulated prices have been determined.

9.   By 15 March 2025 and every two years thereafter, as part of the integrated national energy and climate progress reports, Member States shall submit reports to the Commission on the implementation of this Article and the necessity and proportionality of public interventions under this Article, and an assessment of the progress towards achieving effective competition between suppliers and the transition to market-based prices. Member States that apply regulated prices in accordance with paragraph 6 shall report on the compliance with the conditions set out in paragraph 7, including on compliance by suppliers that are required to apply such interventions, as well as on the impact of regulated prices on the finances of those suppliers.

10.   The Commission shall review the implementation of this Article for the purpose of achieving market-based retail pricing of natural gas and submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council. The report shall, where appropriate, include an assessment of the impact of those measures on the progress in achieving the Union’s climate-neutrality objective and the other energy and climate objectives. It may be combined with the report referred to in Article 5(10) of Directive (EU) 2019/944 on the implementation of that Article. The report shall be submitted together with or followed by a legislative proposal, if appropriate. Such a legislative proposal may include an end date for regulated prices.

Article 5 Access to affordable energy during a natural gas price crisis

1.   The Council may, acting on a proposal from the Commission, by means of an implementing decision, declare a regional or Union-wide natural gas price crisis, if the following conditions are met:

(a)

the existence of very high average prices in wholesale natural gas markets of at least two-and-a-half times the average price during the previous five years, and at least 180 EUR/MWh, which is expected to continue for at least six months, subject to the calculation of the average price during the previous five years not taking into account periods during which a regional or Union-wide natural gas price crisis was declared;

(b)

sharp increases in natural gas retail prices in the range of 70 % occur which are expected to continue for at least three months.

2.   The implementing decision referred to in paragraph 1 shall specify its period of validity which may be for a period of up to one year. That period may be extended in accordance with the procedure set out in paragraph 8 for consecutive periods of up to one year.

3.   The declaration of a regional or Union-wide natural gas price crisis pursuant to paragraph 1 shall ensure a fair competition and trade across all Member States affected by the implementing decision so that the internal market is not unduly distorted.

4.   Where the conditions laid down in paragraph 1 are fulfilled, the Commission shall submit a proposal to declare a regional or Union-wide natural gas price crisis which shall include the proposed period of validity of the implementing decision.

5.   The Council, acting by a qualified majority, may amend a Commission proposal submitted pursuant to paragraph 4 or 8.

6.   Where the Council has adopted an implementing decision pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article, Member States may, for the duration of the validity of that decision, apply temporary targeted public interventions in price setting for the supply of natural gas to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), household customers and essential social services as defined in Article 2, point (4), of Regulation (EU) 2017/1938. Such public interventions shall:

(a)

be limited to at most 70 % of the beneficiary’s consumption during the same period of the previous year and retain an incentive for demand reduction;

(b)

comply with the conditions set out in Article 4(4) and (7);

(c)

where relevant, comply with the conditions set out in paragraph 7;

(d)

be designed to minimise any negative fragmentation of the internal market.

7.   Where the Council has adopted an implementing decision pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article, Member States may for the duration of the validity of that decision, by way of derogation from Article 4(7), point (c), when applying targeted public interventions in price setting for the supply of natural gas pursuant to Article 4(6) or to paragraph 6 of this Article, exceptionally and temporarily set a price for the supply of natural gas which is below cost provided that the following conditions are fulfilled:

(a)

the price set for household customers only applies, at most, to 80 % of median household consumption and retains an incentive for demand reduction;

(b)

there is no discrimination between suppliers;

(c)

suppliers are compensated for supplying below cost in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner;

(d)

all suppliers are eligible to provide offers for the price for the supply of natural gas which is below cost on the same basis;

(e)

measures proposed do not distort the internal market for natural gas.

8.   In due time before the expiry of the period of validity specified pursuant to paragraph 2, the Commission shall assess whether the conditions laid down in paragraph 1 continue to be fulfilled. If the Commission considers that the conditions laid down in paragraph 1 continue to be fulfilled, it shall submit to the Council a proposal to extend the period of validity of an implementing decision adopted pursuant to paragraph 1. Where the Council decides to extend the period of validity, paragraphs 6 and 7 shall apply during such extended period.

The Commission shall continuously assess and monitor the impact resulting from any measures adopted under this Article and publish on a regular basis the results of such assessments.

Article 6 Public service obligations

1.   Member States shall ensure, on the basis of their institutional organisation and with due regard to the principle of subsidiarity, that, without prejudice to paragraph 2, natural gas and hydrogen undertakings are operated in accordance with the principles of this Directive with a view to achieving competitive, secure and environmentally sustainable markets for natural gas and hydrogen. Member States shall not discriminate between those undertakings as regards their rights or obligations.

2.   Having full regard to the relevant provisions of the TFEU, in particular Article 106 thereof, Member States may impose on natural gas and hydrogen undertakings, in the general economic interest, public service obligations which may relate to security, including security of supply, regularity and quality of supplies, and environmental protection, including energy efficiency, energy from renewable sources and climate protection and to the price of natural gas supply. Such obligations shall be clearly defined, transparent, non-discriminatory, verifiable and shall guarantee equality of access for natural gas undertakings and hydrogen undertakings of the Union to national consumers. Public service obligations which concern public interventions in the price setting for the supply of natural gas shall comply with the requirements set out in Articles 4 and 5 of this Directive.

3.   Public service obligations related to the security of gas supply shall ensure compliance of natural gas undertakings with the gas supply standard pursuant to Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 and shall be consistent with the results of the national risk assessments carried out pursuant to Article 7(3) of that Regulation, as detailed in the preventive action plans prepared pursuant to Article 9(1), points (c), (d) and (k), of that Regulation. Public service obligations going beyond what is necessary to ensure compliance with Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 shall comply with the criteria set out in Article 8(1) of that Regulation.

4.   Where financial compensation or other forms of compensation are granted by a Member State for the fulfilment of the obligations set out in this Article, it shall be done in a non-discriminatory and transparent manner.

5.   Member States shall, upon transposition of this Directive, inform the Commission of all measures adopted to fulfil public service obligations, including consumer and environmental protection, and their possible effect on national and international competition, whether or not such measures require a derogation from this Directive. They shall notify the Commission subsequently every two years of any changes to such measures, whether or not they require a derogation from this Directive.

6.   When imposing public service obligations pursuant to paragraph 2, Member States shall consult the relevant stakeholders at an early stage and in an open, inclusive and transparent manner. All official documents related to the consultations and documents used for development of the public service obligation shall be made public while preserving the confidentiality of commercially sensitive information and data protection.

Article 7 Promotion of regional cooperation and integration

1.   Member States as well as the regulatory authorities shall cooperate with each other for the purpose of integrating their national markets at one and more regional levels, towards the creation of regional markets, where Member States or their regulatory authorities so decide, and further towards the creation of a fully liberalised internal market. In particular, Member States or, where Member States have so provided, the regulatory authorities shall promote and facilitate the cooperation of natural gas transmission system operators and hydrogen transmission network operators at a regional level, including on cross-border issues and on the decommissioning of assets, with the aim of ensuring cost-effective decarbonisation in line with the Union’s climate-neutrality objective and creating competitive internal markets for natural gas and hydrogen, foster the consistency of their legal, regulatory and technical framework and facilitate integration of the isolated systems forming natural gas islands that persist in the Union. The geographical areas covered by such regional cooperation shall include cooperation in geographical areas defined in accordance with Article 31(3) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1789. Such cooperation may cover other geographical areas. Where the Commission considers that the rules at Union level are relevant for the regional integration of markets for natural gas and hydrogen, it shall provide appropriate non-binding guidance taking into account the specificities of those markets and the impact on neighbouring markets.

2.   The Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) shall cooperate with regulatory authorities and transmission system operators and hydrogen transmission network operators to ensure the compatibility of regulatory frameworks between and within the regions with the aim of creating competitive internal markets for natural gas and hydrogen. Where ACER considers that binding rules on such cooperation are required, it shall make appropriate recommendations.

3.   Where vertically integrated transmission system operators participate in a joint undertaking established for implementing such cooperation, the joint undertaking shall establish and implement a compliance programme which sets out the measures to be taken to ensure that discriminatory and anticompetitive conduct is excluded. That compliance programme shall set out the specific obligations of employees to meet the objective of excluding discriminatory and anticompetitive conduct. It shall be subject to the approval of ACER. Compliance with the programme shall be independently monitored by the compliance officers of the vertically integrated transmission system operators.

Article 8 Authorisation procedure

1.   In circumstances where an authorisation, such as a licence, permission, concession, consent or approval, is required for the construction or operation of natural gas facilities, hydrogen production facilities and hydrogen system infrastructure, the Member States or any competent authority they designate shall grant authorisations to build or operate such facilities, infrastructure, pipelines or associated equipment on their territory, in accordance with paragraphs 2 to 11. Member States or any competent authority they designate may also grant authorisations on the same basis for the supply of natural gas and hydrogen and for wholesale customers.

2.   Where Member States have a system of authorisation, they shall lay down objective and non-discriminatory criteria and transparent procedures, which shall be met where an undertaking applies for an authorisation to supply natural gas and hydrogen or to construct or operate natural gas facilities, hydrogen production facilities or hydrogen system infrastructure. The criteria and procedures for the granting of authorisations shall be made public. Member States shall ensure that authorisation procedures for such facilities, infrastructure, pipelines or associated equipment take into account the importance of the project for the internal markets for natural gas and hydrogen where appropriate. Member States shall ensure consistency of the system of authorisation for hydrogen system infrastructure with the network development plans for hydrogen transmission and distribution networks adopted pursuant to Articles 55 and 56.

3.   For natural gas suppliers, Member States may assess the financial strength and technical capabilities of applicants as criteria for authorisation. Such criteria shall be fully transparent and non-discriminatory.

4.   Member States shall ensure that any national rules concerning the authorisation procedure referred to in this Article are proportionate, necessary and contribute to the implementation of the general rules for the organisation of the markets for natural gas and hydrogen and infrastructure access, to the energy efficiency first principle, to achieving the Union’s climate and energy targets and to the implementation of Member States’ integrated national energy and climate plans, as well as their long-term strategies adopted pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1999.

5.   The authorisation procedures for the activities referred to in paragraph 1 shall not exceed two years, including all relevant procedures of competent authorities. Where duly justified on the grounds of extraordinary circumstances, that two-year period may be extended by up to one year.

6.   Member States shall assess which national legislative and non-legislative measures are necessary to streamline authorisation procedures, including, without hampering, any procedural steps related to environmental impact assessment procedures and public consultations. Member States shall report to the Commission on the results of such an assessment as part of their integrated national energy and climate plans as referred to in Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999, and in accordance with the procedure set out in Articles 7 to 12 of that Regulation, and as part of their integrated national energy and climate progress reports pursuant to Article 17 of that Regulation.

7.   The time limits established in paragraph 5 of this Article shall apply without prejudice to obligations under applicable Union environmental and energy law, including Directive (EU) 2018/2001, to judicial appeals, remedies and other proceedings before a court or tribunal, and to alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, including complaints procedures, non-judicial appeals and remedies, and may be extended for the duration of such procedures.

8.   Member States shall set up or designate one or more contact points. Those contact points shall, upon request by the applicant, and free of charge, guide the applicant through and facilitate the entire authorisation procedure for the activities referred to in paragraph 1 up to the delivery by the responsible authorities at the end of the procedure. The applicant shall not be required to contact more than one contact point for the entire process.

9.   Member States shall ensure that authorisations under national law for the construction and operation of natural gas system infrastructure also apply to hydrogen system infrastructure. This is without prejudice to the right of Member States to revoke those authorisations if the hydrogen infrastructure does not comply with technical safety rules for hydrogen system infrastructure set out in Union or national law.

10.   Member States shall ensure that existing land-use rights for the construction and operation of natural gas pipelines and other network assets shall be also applied to pipelines and other network assets for the transport of hydrogen.

11.   In the event of a transfer of infrastructure ownership within the same undertaking to meet the requirements of Article 69, the authorisations and land-use rights pertaining to that infrastructure shall equally be transferred to the new owner.

12.   Member States shall ensure that the reasons for any refusal to grant an authorisation are objective and non-discriminatory and that they are provided to the applicant. Reasons for such refusals shall be notified to the Commission for information. Member States shall establish a procedure enabling the applicant to appeal against such refusals.

13.   For the development of newly supplied areas and efficient operation generally, and without prejudice to Article 34, Member States may decline to grant a further authorisation to build and operate distribution pipeline systems for natural gas in any particular area, once such pipeline systems have been or are authorised to be built in that area and if existing or proposed capacity is not saturated.

14.   Member States shall decline to grant an authorisation to construct and operate a transmission or a distribution infrastructure for natural gas in areas where the network development plan pursuant to Article 55 provides for the decommissioning of the transmission system or relevant parts thereof or a distribution network decommissioning plan has been approved pursuant to Article 57.

15.   Where an authorisation within the meaning of paragraph 1 of this Article falls within the scope of application of Article 15 and Articles 15b to 17 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001, only those provisions shall apply.

Article 9 Certification of renewable gas and low-carbon fuels

1.   Renewable gas shall be certified in accordance with Articles 29, 29a and 30 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001. Low-carbon fuels shall be certified in accordance with this Article.

2.   In order to ensure that the greenhouse gas emissions savings from the use of low-carbon fuels are at least 70 %, Member States shall require economic operators to show that that threshold and the requirements established in the methodology referred to in paragraph 5 of this Article have been complied with. For those purposes, they shall require economic operators to use a mass balance system in line with Article 30(1) and (2) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001.

3.   Member States shall ensure that economic operators submit reliable information regarding compliance with the 70 % greenhouse gas emissions savings threshold referred to in paragraph 2 and with the greenhouse gas emissions saving methodology referred to in paragraph 5, and that economic operators make available to the relevant Member State, upon request, the data that were used to provide that information. Member States shall require economic operators to put in place an adequate standard of independent auditing of the information submitted, and to provide evidence that this has been done. The auditing shall verify that the systems used by economic operators are accurate, reliable and protected against fraud.

4.   The obligations laid down in paragraph 2 shall apply regardless of whether low-carbon fuels are produced within the Union or are imported. Information about the geographic origin and feedstock type of low-carbon fuels or low-carbon hydrogen per fuel supplier shall be made available to consumers on the websites of operators, suppliers or the relevant competent authorities and shall be updated on an annual basis.

5.   By 5 August 2025, the Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 90 to supplement this Directive by specifying the methodology for assessing greenhouse gas emissions savings from low-carbon fuels. That methodology shall ensure that credit for avoided emissions is not given for carbon dioxide from fossil sources the capture of which has already received an emission credit under other provisions of law and shall cover the life cycle of greenhouse gas emissions and consider indirect emissions resulting from the diversion of rigid inputs. That methodology shall be consistent with the methodology for assessing greenhouse gas emissions savings from renewable liquid and gaseous transport fuels of non-biological origin and from recycled carbon fuels, including the treatment of emissions due to the leakage of hydrogen, and take into account methane upstream emissions and actual carbon capture rates.

6.   Where appropriate, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council that evaluates hydrogen leakage, including environmental and climate risks, technical specificities and adequate maximum hydrogen leakage rates. On the basis of that report, the Commission shall, if appropriate, submit a legislative proposal to introduce measures that minimise possible risks of hydrogen leakage, set maximum hydrogen leakage rates and establish compliance mechanisms. Relevant maximum hydrogen leakage rates shall be included in the methodology referred to in paragraph 5.

7.   The Commission may adopt decisions recognising that voluntary national or international schemes setting standards for the production of low-carbon fuels or low-carbon hydrogen provide accurate data on greenhouse gas emission savings for the purposes of this Article and demonstrate compliance with the methodology referred to in paragraph 5 of this Article. The Commission shall adopt such decisions only if the scheme in question meets adequate standards of reliability, transparency and independent auditing in line with the requirements set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996  ( 42 ) for the certification of renewable fuels.

8.   Where an economic operator provides evidence or data obtained in accordance with a scheme that has been the subject of a recognition pursuant to paragraph 7, a Member State shall not require the economic operator to provide further evidence of compliance with the criteria for which the scheme has been recognised by the Commission.

9.   Competent authorities of the Member States shall supervise the operation of certification bodies that are conducting independent auditing under a voluntary scheme. Certification bodies shall submit, upon the request of competent authorities, all relevant information necessary to supervise the auditing, including the exact date, time and location of audits. Where Member States find issues of non-conformity, they shall inform the voluntary scheme without delay.

10.   At the request of a Member State, which may be based on a request by an economic operator, the Commission shall, on the basis of all available evidence, examine whether the greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria laid down in this Article, the methodology developed in line with paragraph 5 of this Article, and the greenhouse gas emissions savings thresholds indicated in Article 2, points (11), (12) and (13), have been met. Within six months of receipt of such a request, the Commission shall decide whether the Member State concerned may:

(a)

accept the evidence already provided to show compliance with the greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria for low-carbon fuels; or

(b)

by way of derogation from paragraph 8, require suppliers of the source of low-carbon fuels to provide further evidence of their compliance with the greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria and the 70 % greenhouse gas emissions savings threshold.

11.   Member States shall require the relevant economic operators to enter into the Union database established pursuant to Article 31a(1) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001, or into national databases that are linked to that Union database, in accordance with Article 31a(2) of that Directive, information on the transactions made and the sustainability characteristics of renewable gas and low-carbon fuels in line with the requirements for renewable fuels established in Article 31a of that Directive. Where guarantees of origin have been issued for the production of a consignment of low-carbon gas, they shall be subject to the same rules as those set out in in that Article for guarantees of origin issued for the production of renewable gas.

12.   The Commission shall adopt by means of implementing acts decisions on recognition pursuant to paragraph 7 of this Article. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 91(3). Such decisions shall have a limited period of validity, not exceeding five years.

Article 10 Technical rules

1.   Member States or, where Member States have so provided, the regulatory authorities shall ensure that technical safety criteria are established and that technical rules establishing the minimum technical design and operational requirements for the connection to the system of LNG facilities, natural gas storage facilities, other transmission or distribution systems, or direct lines, as well as to the hydrogen system, are developed and made public. Those technical rules shall ensure the interoperability of systems and shall be objective and non-discriminatory. ACER may make appropriate recommendations towards achieving compatibility of those rules, where appropriate. Those rules shall be notified to the Commission in accordance with Article 5 of Directive (EU) 2015/1535 of the European Parliament and of the Council  ( 43 ) .

2.   Where relevant, Member States or, where Member States have so provided, the regulatory authorities shall require transmission system operators, distribution system operators and hydrogen network operators in their territory to publish technical rules in accordance with this Article, in particular regarding network connection rules that include gas quality, gas odorisation and gas pressure requirements. Member States shall also require transmission and distribution system operators to publish the connection fees to connect gas from renewable sources based on objective, transparent and non-discriminatory criteria.

Article 11 Basic contractual rights

1.   Member States shall ensure that all final customers are entitled to have natural gas and hydrogen provided by a supplier, subject to the supplier’s agreement, regardless of the Member State in which the supplier is registered, provided that the supplier observes the applicable trading, balancing and security of supply rules and criteria in accordance with Article 8(2). In that regard, Member States shall take all measures necessary to ensure that administrative procedures do not discriminate against suppliers already registered in another Member State.

2.   Without prejudice to Union rules on consumer protection, in particular Directive 2011/83/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council  ( 44 ) and Council Directive 93/13/EEC  ( 45 ) , Member States shall ensure that final customers have the rights provided for in paragraphs 3 to 11 of this Article.

3.   Final customers shall have the right to a contract with their supplier that specifies:

(a)

the identity and contact details of the supplier, including address, email address and a consumer support hotline;

(b)

the services provided (including the product and tariff name), the main features of the services provided, the service quality levels offered, and the time for the initial connection;

(c)

the types of maintenance service offered;

(d)

the means by which up-to-date information on all applicable tariffs, maintenance charges and bundled products or services can be obtained;

(e)

the duration of the contract, the conditions for renewal and termination of the contract and services, including products or services that are bundled with those services, and whether terminating the contract without charge is permitted;

(f)

any compensation and the refund arrangements which apply if contracted service quality levels are not met, including inaccurate or delayed billing;

(g)

where the environmental performance, including where relevant carbon dioxide emissions, is promoted as an essential feature, clear, objective, publicly available and verifiable commitments provided by the supplier and, in the case of supply of renewable gas and low-carbon gas, certification of the renewable gas and low-carbon gas supplied in accordance with Article 9;

(h)

the method of initiating an out-of-court dispute settlement procedure in accordance with Article 25;

(i)

information relating to consumer rights, including clear and understandable information on complaint handling and how and where a complaint can be submitted and all the information referred to in this paragraph, that is clearly communicated on the bill or the hydrogen or natural gas undertaking’s website;

(j)

where relevant, information on the provider and the price of products or services that are tied to, or bundled with, natural gas or hydrogen supply.

The contractual conditions shall be fair and well known in advance. In any case, the information shall be provided in consumer-friendly, clear and unambiguous language, prior to the conclusion or confirmation of the contract. Where contracts are concluded through intermediaries, the information referred to in this paragraph shall also be provided prior to the conclusion of the contract. Information on the provider of products or services, and the price of those products or services, that are tied to or bundled with gas supply shall be provided prior to the conclusion of the contract.

Final customers shall be provided with a single summary of the key contractual conditions in a prominent manner and in concise and simple language. Member States shall require the supplier to use a common terminology. The Commission shall provide non-binding guidance in this regard.

4.   Final customers shall be given adequate notice of any intention to modify contractual conditions and shall be informed about their right to terminate the contract when the notice is given. Suppliers shall notify their final customer and in a transparent and comprehensible manner of any adjustment in the supply price and of the reasons and preconditions for the adjustment and its scope, no later than two weeks, or no later than one month in the case of household customers, before the adjustment comes into effect. Member States shall ensure that final customers are free to terminate contracts if they do not accept the new contractual conditions or adjustments in the supply price notified to them by their supplier.

5.   Suppliers shall provide final customers with transparent information on applicable prices, tariffs and standard terms and conditions, in respect of access to and use of services, for natural gas and hydrogen, in particular information on whether the price is fixed or variable and, where relevant, on promotions and discounts. Key contractual information shall be highlighted by the supplier.

6.   Suppliers shall offer final customers a wide choice of payment methods. Such payment methods shall not discriminate between customers. Vulnerable customers as referred to in Article 26 of this Directive and customers affected by energy poverty may be granted more favourable treatment. Any difference in charges related to payment methods or prepayment systems shall be objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate and shall not exceed the direct costs borne by the payee for the use of a specific payment method or a prepayment system, in accordance with Article 62 of Directive (EU) 2015/2366 of the European Parliament and of the Council  ( 46 ) .

7.   Household customers who have access to prepayment systems shall not be placed at a disadvantage by the prepayment systems.

8.   Suppliers shall offer final customers fair and transparent general terms and conditions, which shall be provided in plain and unambiguous language and shall not include non-contractual barriers to the exercise of customers’ rights, such as excessive contractual documentation. Customers shall be protected against unfair or misleading selling methods.

9.   Final customers shall have the right to a good standard of service and complaint handling by their suppliers. Suppliers shall handle complaints in a simple, fair and prompt manner.

10.   Suppliers shall provide natural gas household customers with adequate information on alternative measures to avoid disconnection sufficiently in advance of any planned disconnection. Such alternative measures may include information about sources of support to avoid disconnection, prepayment systems, energy audits, energy consultancy services, alternative payment plans, debt management advice or disconnection moratoria and shall not entail an extra cost to the customers facing disconnection.

11.   Suppliers shall provide final customers with a final closure account after any switch of supplier no later than six weeks after such a switch has taken place.

Article 12 Right to switch and rules on switching-related fees

1.   Customers shall have the right to switch suppliers for natural gas and hydrogen or to switch natural gas and hydrogen market participants. Member States shall ensure that a customer wishing to switch suppliers or market participants, while respecting contractual conditions, is entitled to such a switch within the shortest possible time, and in any event within three weeks from the date of the request by the customer. By 1 January 2026, the technical process of switching supplier or market participant shall take no longer than 24 hours and shall be possible on any working day.

2.   Member States shall ensure that the right to switch supplier or market participant is granted to customers in a non-discriminatory manner in terms of cost, effort and time.

3.   Member States shall ensure that at least household customers, microenterprises and small enterprises are not charged any switching-related fees for natural gas and hydrogen, included where gas supply is tied to or bundled with other services, equipment or products. However, Member States may allow suppliers or market participants to charge their customers contract termination fees where those customers voluntarily terminate fixed-term, fixed-price supply contracts before their maturity, provided that such fees:

(a)

are part of a contract that the customer has voluntarily entered into; and

(b)

are clearly communicated to the customer before the contract is entered into.

Such fees shall be proportionate and shall not exceed the direct economic loss to the supplier or the market participant resulting from the termination of the contract by the customer. In the case of bundled offers, customers shall be able to terminate individual services of a contract. The burden of proving the direct economic loss shall be on the supplier or market participant. The permissibility of contract termination fees shall be monitored by the regulatory authority or by another competent national authority.

4.   Household customers for natural gas and hydrogen shall be entitled to participate in collective switching schemes. Member States shall remove all regulatory or administrative barriers for collective switching and provide a framework that ensures the consumer protection from abusive practices.

5.   Member States shall ensure that information on supplier switching is provided to final customers in a user-friendly format, including through the single points of contact referred to in Article 24.

6.   Member States shall ensure that customers are granted the right to terminate their gas supply contracts at short notice.

Article 13 Consumer rights and protection in relation to the phasing-out of natural gas

Where the disconnection of network users pursuant to Article 38(6) is allowed, Member States shall ensure that:

(a)

the network users concerned and other relevant stakeholders, in particular consumer bodies, have been consulted;

(b)

network users, final customers and relevant stakeholders are informed sufficiently in advance of the planned date, the procedure for disconnection, the steps planned and the relevant timeline;

(c)

final customers receive information on and have access to sufficient advice on sustainable heating options, as well as information on financial support through relevant bodies to be identified by national authorities, including one-stop shops established pursuant to Articles 21 and 22 of Directive (EU) 2023/1791 and Article 18 of Directive (EU) 2024/1275 of the European Parliament and of the Council  ( 47 ) , and contact points set up or designated pursuant to Article 16(3) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001;

(d)

when planning and carrying out the phase-out of natural gas, specific needs of vulnerable customers as referred to in Article 26 and customers affected by energy poverty are duly taken into account and, where applicable, appropriate measures are taken with the aim of removing adverse effects of the natural gas phase-out taking into account the guidance referred to in Article 27, which measures may include the use of public funding and funding facilities established at Union level;

(e)

any financial transfer between regulated services follows the rules set out in Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1789 and there is no discrimination between different categories of customers and between energy carriers.

Article 14 Comparison tools for natural gas

1.   Member States shall ensure that at least natural gas household customers, as well as microenterprises and small enterprises with an expected yearly consumption of below 100 000 kWh, have access, free of charge, to at least one tool comparing the offers of suppliers, including bundled offers. Customers shall be informed of the availability of such tools in or together with their bills or by other means. Such tools shall at least:

(a)

be independent from market participants and ensure that natural gas undertakings are given equal treatment in search results;

(b)

clearly disclose their owners and the natural or legal person operating and controlling the tools, as well as information on how the tools are financed;

(c)

set out clear and objective criteria on which the comparison is to be based, including services, and disclose them;

(d)

use plain and unambiguous language;

(e)

provide accurate and up-to-date information and state the time of the last update of the information;

(f)

be accessible to persons with disabilities, by being perceivable, operable, understandable and robust;

(g)

provide an effective procedure for reporting incorrect information on published offers;

(h)

perform comparisons, while limiting the personal data requested to that strictly necessary for the comparison;

(i)

clearly indicate whether the price is fixed or variable and the duration of the contract.

Member States shall ensure that at least one tool covers the entire market for natural gas. Where multiple tools cover the market, those tools shall include, as complete as practicable, a range of natural gas offers covering a significant part of the market and, where those tools do not completely cover the market, a clear statement to that effect, provided before displaying results.

Suppliers and relevant intermediaries shall provide their relevant offers to at least one price comparison tool that covers the entire market.

Suppliers shall ensure that the information provided to the operator of the comparison tool is accurate and up-to-date.

2.   The tools may be operated by any entity, including private companies and public authorities or bodies.

3.   Member States may require comparison tools referred to in paragraph 1 to include comparative criteria relating to the nature of the services offered by the suppliers, including the single unit price, all charges and information on discounts, and, where applicable, environmental performance.

When establishing those criteria, Member States shall consult the relevant stakeholders.

4.   Member States shall appoint a competent authority to be responsible for issuing trust marks for comparison tools that meet the requirements set out in paragraph 1, and for ensuring that comparison tools bearing such a trust mark continue to meet those requirements. That competent authority shall be independent of any market participants and comparison tool operators.

5.   Any tool comparing the offers of market participants shall be eligible to apply for a trust mark as referred to in paragraph 4 on a voluntary and non-discriminatory basis.

6.   By way of derogation from paragraphs 4 and 5, Member States may choose not to provide for the issuance of trust marks to comparison tools if a public authority or body provides a comparison tool that meets the requirements set out in paragraph 1.

Article 15 Active customers on the market for natural gas

1.   Member States shall ensure that final customers, in particular from the agricultural or public sectors, while maintaining their rights as final customers as established in this Directive, are entitled to act as active customers without being subject to disproportionate or discriminatory technical requirements, administrative requirements, procedures and charges, and to network charges that are not cost-reflective.

2.   Member States shall ensure that active customers are:

(a)

entitled to operate directly;

(b)

entitled to sell self-produced renewable natural gas using the natural gas system;

(c)

entitled to participate in energy efficiency and demand-shifting schemes;

(d)

entitled to delegate to a third party the management of the installations required for their activities, including installation, operation, data handling and maintenance, without that third party being considered to be an active customer;

(e)

subject to cost-reflective, transparent and non-discriminatory network charges, ensuring that they contribute in an adequate and balanced way to the overall cost sharing of the system;

(f)

financially responsible for the imbalances they cause in the natural gas system or are to delegate their balancing responsibility in accordance with Article 3, point (e), of Regulation (EU) 2024/1789.

3.   Member States may have different provisions applicable to individual and jointly-acting active customers in their national law, provided that all rights and obligations under this Article apply to all active customers. Any difference in the treatment of jointly-acting active customers shall be proportionate and duly justified.

4.   Member States shall ensure that active customers that own facilities that store renewable gas:

(a)

have the right to a grid connection within a reasonable time after they make a request to that effect, provided that all necessary conditions, such as balancing responsibility, are fulfilled;

(b)

are not subject to any double charges, including network charges, for stored renewable gas remaining within their premises;

(c)

are not subject to disproportionate licensing requirements or fees;

(d)

are allowed to provide several services simultaneously, if technically feasible.

Article 16 Bills and billing information

1.   Member States shall ensure that bills and billing information are accurate, easy to understand, clear, concise, user-friendly and presented in a manner that facilitates comparison by final customers and that they fulfil the minimum requirements set out in Annex I. On request, final customers shall receive a clear and understandable explanation of how their bill was derived, especially where bills are not based on actual consumption.

2.   Member States shall ensure that final customers receive all their bills and billing information free of charge.

3.   Member States shall ensure that final customers are offered the option of electronic bills and billing information and are offered flexible arrangements for the actual payment of the bills.

4.   Where the contract provides for a future change of the product or price, or a discount, this shall be indicated on the bill together with the date on which the change takes place.

5.   Member States shall consult consumer bodies when they consider changes to the requirements for the content of bills.

Article 17 Smart metering systems in the natural gas system

1.   In order to complement energy efficiency measures adopted pursuant to Directives (EU) 2023/1791 and (EU) 2024/1275 and to further empower final customers, Member States or, where Member States have so provided, the regulatory authorities shall strongly recommend that natural gas undertakings optimise the use of natural gas by, inter alia, providing energy management services, and introducing smart metering systems in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article, that are interoperable in particular with consumer energy management systems and with smart grids, in accordance with the applicable Union data protection rules.

2.   Member States shall proceed with the deployment in their territories of smart metering systems only after a cost-benefit assessment which shall be undertaken in accordance with the principles laid down in Annex II, identifying the net benefits to customers that arise from the use of smart meters and of signing up for smart meter-enabled offers. In their cost-benefit assessment, Member States may make separate assessments and evaluate the impact of deploying smart metering systems for different categories of customers and customer groups, such as household customers, microenterprises, SMEs and industry.

3.   Member States that proceed with the deployment of smart metering systems shall adopt and publish the minimum functional and technical requirements for the smart metering systems to be deployed in their territories, in accordance with Article 19 and Annex II. Member States shall ensure the interoperability of those smart metering systems, as well as their ability to provide output for consumer energy management systems. In that respect, Member States shall have due regard to the use of the relevant available standards, including those enabling interoperability, to best practices and to the importance of the development of smart grids and the development of the internal market for natural gas.

4.   Member States that proceed with the deployment of smart metering systems shall ensure the provision of clear and understandable information and advice to customers about the benefits of smart meters after consulting consumer bodies and other relevant organisations. That information shall at least:

(a)

include advice on how customer groups can use their smart metering systems to improve their energy efficiency;

(b)

address the specific needs of customers affected by energy poverty or vulnerable customers as referred to in Article 26 of this Directive, such as persons with a visual or hearing impairment and persons with low levels of literacy, including via engagement strategies as defined in Article 2, point (55), of Directive (EU) 2023/1791;

5.   Member States that proceed with the deployment of smart metering systems shall ensure that final customers contribute to the associated costs of the deployment in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner, while taking into account the long-term benefits to the whole value chain, including the benefits to network operations, when calculating the network charges applicable to or fees paid by customers. Member States or, where Member States have so provided, the designated competent authorities shall regularly monitor such deployment in their territories to track the delivery of benefits to customers.

6.   Where the deployment of smart metering systems has been negatively assessed as a result of the cost-benefit assessment referred to in paragraph 2, Member States shall ensure that the assessment is revised in response to significant changes in the underlying assumptions and in response to technological and market developments. Member States shall notify to the Commission the outcome of their updated cost-benefit assessment as it becomes available.

7.   The provisions in this Directive concerning smart metering systems shall apply to future installations and to installations that replace older smart meters. Smart metering systems that have already been installed, or for which the ‘start of works’ began, before 4 August 2024, may remain in operation over their lifetime. However, smart metering systems that do not meet the requirements of Article 19 and Annex II shall not remain in operation after 5 August 2036.

8.   For the purpose of paragraph 7, ‘start of works’ means either the start of construction works on the investment or the first firm commitment to order equipment or other commitment that makes the investment irreversible, whichever occurs first. Buying of land and preparatory works such as obtaining permits and conducting preliminary feasibility studies shall not be considered as ‘start of works’. For take-overs, ‘start of works’ means the moment of acquiring the assets directly linked to the acquired establishment.

Article 18 Smart metering systems in the hydrogen system

1.   Member States shall ensure the deployment of smart metering systems that can accurately measure consumption and provide information on actual time of use, and that are able to transmit and receive data for information, monitoring and control purposes using a form of electronic communication.

2.   Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this Article, such obligation to deploy shall be subject to a cost-benefit assessment at least for household customers, which shall be undertaken in accordance with the principles laid down in Annex II.

3.   Member States shall ensure the security of the smart metering systems and relevant data communication, and the privacy of final customers, in compliance with relevant Union data protection and privacy law, as well as their interoperability and having regard to the use of appropriate standards.

4.   The Commission shall adopt, by means of implementing acts, interoperability requirements for smart metering and procedures to ensure, for those eligible, access to data coming from smart metering systems. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 91(2).

5.   Member States that proceed with the deployment of smart metering systems shall ensure that final customers contribute to the associated costs of the deployment in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner, while taking into account the long-term benefits to the whole value chain, including to network operations, when calculating the network charges applicable to, or fees paid by, customers. Member States shall regularly monitor such deployment in their territories to track the delivery of benefits to customers.

6.   Where the deployment of smart metering systems has been negatively assessed as a result of the cost-benefit assessment referred to in paragraph 2, Member States shall ensure that the assessment is revised periodically in response to significant changes in the underlying assumptions and in response to technological and market developments. Member States shall notify to the Commission the outcome of their updated cost-benefit assessment as it becomes available.

Article 19 Functionalities of smart metering systems in the natural gas system

Where the deployment of smart metering systems is positively assessed as a result of the cost-benefit assessment referred to in Article 17(2), or where smart metering systems are systematically deployed after 4 August 2024, Member States shall deploy those systems in accordance with European standards, Annex II and the following requirements:

(a)

the smart metering systems accurately measure actual natural gas consumption and are capable of providing to final customers information on actual time of use, including validated historical consumption data made easily and securely available and visualised to final customers on request and at no additional cost, and non-validated most recent available consumption data made easily and securely available to final customers at no additional cost, through a standardised interface or through remote access, in order to support automated energy efficiency programmes, and other services;

(b)

the security of the smart metering systems and data communication complies with relevant Union security rules, having due regard to the best available techniques for ensuring the highest level of cybersecurity protection while bearing in mind the costs and the principle of proportionality;

(c)

the privacy of final customers and the protection of their data complies with relevant Union data protection and privacy rules;

(d)

where requested by final customers their natural gas consumption data is made available to them, in accordance with the implementing acts adopted pursuant to Article 23, through a standardised communication interface or through remote access, or to a third party acting on their behalf, in an easily understandable format allowing them to compare offers on a like-for-like basis;

(e)

appropriate advice and information is given to final customers prior to or at the time of installation of smart meters, in particular concerning their full potential with regard to the management of meter reading and the monitoring of energy consumption, and concerning the collection and processing of personal data in accordance with the applicable Union data protection rules;

(f)

smart metering systems enable final customers to be metered and settled at the same time resolution as the shortest settlement period in the national market.

For the purposes of point (d), it shall be possible for final customers to retrieve their metering data or transmit them to another party at no additional cost and in accordance with their right to data portability under Union data protection rules.

Article 20 Entitlement to a smart meter for natural gas

1.   Where the deployment of smart metering systems has been negatively assessed as a result of the cost-benefit assessment referred to in Article 17(2) and where smart metering systems are not systematically deployed, Member States shall ensure that customers are entitled, on request, while bearing the associated costs, to have installed or, where applicable, to have upgraded, under fair, reasonable and cost-effective conditions, a smart meter that:

(a)

is equipped, where technically feasible, with the functionalities referred to in Article 19, or with a minimum set of functionalities to be established and published by Member States at national level in accordance with Annex II;

(b)

is interoperable and able to deliver the desired connectivity of the metering infrastructure with consumer energy management systems.

2.   Where a customer requests the installation of a smart meter pursuant to paragraph 1, Member States or, where Member States have so provided, the designated competent authorities shall:

(a)

ensure that the offer to the customer requesting the installation of a smart meter explicitly states and clearly describes:

(i)

the functions and interoperability that can be supported by the smart meter and the services that can be provided as well as the benefits that can be realistically attained by having that smart meter at that moment in time;

(ii)

any associated costs to be borne by the customer;

(b)

ensure that the smart meter is installed within a reasonable time, and in any event no later than four months after the customer’s request;

(c)

regularly, and in any event at least every two years, review and make public the associated costs, and trace the evolution of those costs as a result of technology developments and potential metering system upgrades.

Article 21 Conventional meters for natural gas

1.   Where final natural gas customers do not have smart meters, Member States shall ensure that final customers are provided with individual conventional meters that accurately measure their actual consumption. Member States may exempt household customers that do not use natural gas for heating purposes from this requirement where the deployment of such meters is not technically possible, financially reasonable or proportionate to the potential energy savings. That exemption may also be extended to non-household customers located in buildings where the majority of customers are household customers eligible for the exemption, if the deployment is not technically feasible.

2.   Member States shall ensure that final natural gas customers are able to easily read their conventional meters, either directly or indirectly through an online interface or through another appropriate interface.

Article 22 Data management

1.   When laying down the rules regarding the management and exchange of data, Member States or, where Member States have so provided, the designated competent authorities shall specify the rules on the access to data of the final customer by eligible parties in accordance with this Article and the applicable Union legal framework. For the purpose of this Directive, data shall be understood to include metering and consumption data as well as data required for customer switching, and other services.

2.   Member States shall organise the management of data in order to ensure efficient and secure data access and exchange, as well as data protection and data security.

Independently of the data management model applied in each Member State, the parties responsible for data management shall provide access to the data of the final customer to any eligible party, in accordance with paragraph 1. Eligible parties shall have the requested data at their disposal in a non-discriminatory manner and simultaneously. Access to data shall be easy and the relevant procedures for obtaining access to data shall be made public.

3.   The rules on access to data and data storage for the purpose of this Directive shall comply with the relevant Union law.

The processing of personal data within the framework of this Directive shall be carried out in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679.

4.   Member States or, where Member States have so provided, the designated competent authorities shall authorise and certify or, where applicable, supervise the parties responsible for the data management, in order to ensure that they comply with the requirements of this Directive.

Without prejudice to the tasks of the data protection officers laid down in Regulation (EU) 2016/679, Member States may decide to require that parties responsible for the data management appoint compliance officers who shall be responsible for monitoring the implementation of measures taken by those parties to ensure non-discriminatory access to data and compliance with the requirements of this Directive.

Member States may appoint compliance officers or bodies referred to in Article 46(2), point (d) to fulfil the obligations under this paragraph.

5.   No additional costs shall be charged to final customers for access to their data or for a request to make their data available.

Member States shall be responsible for setting the relevant charges for access to data by eligible parties.

Member States shall ensure that any charges imposed by regulated entities that provide data services are reasonable and duly justified.

Article 23 Interoperability requirements and procedures for access to data in the market for natural gas

1.   In order to promote competition in the retail market for natural gas and to avoid excessive administrative costs for the eligible parties, Member States shall facilitate the full interoperability of energy services within the Union.

2.   The Commission shall adopt, by means of implementing acts, interoperability requirements and non-discriminatory and transparent procedures for access to data referred to in Article 22(1). Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 91(2).

3.   Member States shall ensure that natural gas undertakings apply the interoperability requirements and procedures for access to data referred to in paragraph 2. Those requirements and procedures shall be based on existing national practices.

Article 24 Single points of contact

Member States shall ensure that single points of contact are established to provide all customers, including those without access to the internet, with all necessary information concerning their rights, certified comparison tools, available support measures, including those targeted at vulnerable customers as referred to in Article 26 of this Directive, the applicable law and out-of-court dispute settlement mechanisms available to them in the event of a dispute. Such single points of contact may be part of general consumer information points and may be the same entities as the single contact points for electricity referred to in Article 25 of Directive (EU) 2019/944 or contact points established pursuant to Article 16(3) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 and one-stop shops established pursuant to Articles 21 and 22 of Directive (EU) 2023/1791, and Article 18 of Directive (EU) 2024/1275. Member States shall promote alignment between the single points of contact established pursuant to this Directive and the bodies established pursuant to those Union legal acts.

Article 25 Out-of-court dispute settlement

1.   Member States shall ensure that final customers have access to simple, fair, reasonable, transparent, independent, cost-effective and efficient out-of-court mechanisms for the settlement of disputes concerning rights and obligations established under this Directive, through an independent mechanism such as an energy ombudsman or a consumer body, or through a regulatory authority. Where the final customer is a consumer within the meaning of Directive 2013/11/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council  ( 48 ) , such out-of-court dispute settlement mechanisms shall comply with the quality requirements of that Directive and shall provide, where warranted, for systems of reimbursement and compensation.

2.   Where necessary, Member States shall ensure that alternative dispute resolution entities cooperate to provide simple, fair, transparent, independent, effective and efficient out-of-court mechanisms for the settlement of disputes that arises from products or services that are tied to, or bundled with, any product or service falling under the scope of this Directive.

3.   The participation of natural gas undertakings in out-of-court dispute settlement mechanisms for household customers shall be mandatory unless the Member State concerned demonstrates to the Commission that other mechanisms are equally effective.

4.   Without prejudice to Directive 2013/11/EU, Member States shall assess the functioning of their out-of-court dispute settlement mechanisms referred to in this Article.

Article 26 Protection of vulnerable customers and customers affected by energy poverty

1.   Member States shall take appropriate measures to protect final customers, and shall, in particular, ensure that there are adequate safeguards to protect vulnerable customers and customers affected by energy poverty. In that context, each Member State shall define the concept of vulnerable customers which may refer to energy poverty. The definition of vulnerable customers shall be consistent with the concept of vulnerable customer as defined by a Member State pursuant to Article 28 of Directive (EU) 2019/944.

2.   In particular, Member States shall take appropriate measures to protect final customers in remote areas who are connected to the natural gas or hydrogen systems. Member States shall ensure high levels of consumer protection, particularly with respect to transparency regarding contractual terms and conditions, and competitive, transparent and non-discriminatory prices, general information and dispute settlement mechanisms.

Article 27 Energy poverty and decommissioning of the natural gas distribution network

The Commission shall provide guidance on the protection of vulnerable customers and customers affected by energy poverty during the planning and carrying out the phase-out of natural gas or when natural gas distribution networks are being decommissioned, in particular to ensure that the specific needs of such customers are duly taken into account in accordance with Article 13(1), point (d).

Article 28 Protection from disconnection

1.   Member State shall take measures to prevent the disconnection of vulnerable customers and customers affected by energy poverty. In relation to vulnerable customers, those measures shall be subject to Article 26.

When notifying the Commission of their transposition measures for this Directive, Member States shall explain the relationship between the first subparagraph and the corresponding parts of national transposition instruments.

2.   Member States shall ensure that suppliers do not terminate contracts with, or disconnect, customers on grounds in relation to which the relevant supplier is handling a complaint in accordance with Article 11(9) or which are the subject of out-of-court dispute settlement in accordance with Article 25, and shall not affect the parties’ contractual rights and obligations. Member States may take appropriate measures to avoid an abuse of process.

3.   Member States shall take appropriate measures to enable customers to avoid disconnection, which may include:

(a)

promoting voluntary codes of suppliers and customers aiming to prevent and manage situations of customers in arrears, which may concern support to customers to manage their energy use and costs, including flagging unusual high-energy spikes or usage, offering appropriate flexible payment plans, debt advice measures, improved communications with customers and support agencies;

(b)

promoting education and awareness of customers about their rights and debt management; and

(c)

access to finance, vouchers or subsidies to support payment of bills.

Article 29 Supplier of last resort

1.   Member States shall establish a supplier of last resort regime or take equivalent measures to ensure continuity of supply at least for household customers. Suppliers of last resort shall be appointed in a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory procedure.

2.   Final customers who are transferred to suppliers of last resort shall continue to benefit from their rights as customers.

3.   Member States shall ensure that suppliers of last resort promptly communicate their terms and conditions to transferred customers and ensure seamless continuity of service for such customers for the period needed to find a new supplier.

4.   Member States shall ensure that final customers are provided with information and encouragement to switch to a market-based offer.

5.   Member States may require a supplier of last resort to supply natural gas to household customers and small and medium-sized enterprises who do not receive market-based offers, including for the purpose of Article 28(3). In such cases, the conditions set out in Article 4 shall apply.

Article 30 Access of renewable gas and low-carbon gas to the market

Member States shall enable the access of renewable gas and low-carbon gas to the market and infrastructure regardless of whether the production facilities for renewable gas and low-carbon gas are connected to distribution or transmission networks, taking into account assumptions on the evolution of the production, supply and consumption of natural gas in accordance with Article 55(2), point (f).

Article 31 Third-party access to natural gas distribution and transmission and LNG terminals

1.   Member States shall ensure the implementation of a system of third-party access to the transmission and distribution system and LNG facilities based on published tariffs, applicable to all customers, including supply undertakings, and applied objectively and without discrimination between system users. Member States shall ensure that those tariffs, or the methodologies underlying their calculation, are approved prior to their entry into force in accordance with Article 78 by a regulatory authority and that those tariffs – and the methodologies, where only methodologies are approved – are published prior to their entry into force.

2.   Transmission system operators shall, if necessary for the purpose of carrying out their functions including in relation to cross-border transmission, have access to the network of other transmission system operators.

3.   This Directive shall not prevent the conclusion of long-term contracts for renewable gas and low-carbon gas in so far as they comply with Union competition rules and contribute to decarbonisation. No long-term contracts for the supply of unabated fossil gas shall be concluded with a duration beyond 31 December 2049.

Article 32 Access to upstream natural gas pipeline networks

1.   Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that natural gas undertakings and eligible customers, wherever they are located, are able to obtain access to upstream pipeline networks, including facilities supplying technical services incidental to such access, in accordance with this Article, except for the parts of such networks and facilities which are used for local production operations at the site of a field where the natural gas is produced. The measures shall be notified to the Commission in accordance with Article 94.

2.   The access referred to in paragraph 1 shall be provided in a manner determined by the Member States in accordance with the relevant legal instruments. Member States shall apply the objectives of fair and open access, achieving a competitive market for natural gas and avoiding any abuse of a dominant position, taking into account security and regularity of supplies, capacity which is or can reasonably be made available, and environmental protection. The following needs may be taken into account:

(a)

the need to refuse access where there is an incompatibility of technical specifications which cannot reasonably be overcome;

(b)

the need to avoid difficulties which cannot reasonably be overcome and could prejudice the efficient, current and planned future production of hydrocarbons, including that from fields of marginal economic viability;

(c)

the need to respect the duly substantiated reasonable needs of the owner or operator of the upstream pipeline network for the transport and processing of natural gas and the interests of all other users of the upstream pipeline network or relevant processing or handling facilities who may be affected; and

(d)

the need to apply their laws and administrative procedures, in conformity with Union law, for the grant of authorisation for production or upstream development.

3.   Member States shall ensure that they have in place dispute-settlement arrangements, including an authority independent of the parties with access to all relevant information, to enable disputes relating to access to upstream pipeline networks to be settled expeditiously, taking into account the needs referred to in paragraph 2 and the number of parties which may be involved in negotiating access to such networks.

4.   In the event of cross-border disputes, the dispute-settlement arrangements for the Member State having jurisdiction over the upstream pipeline network which refuses access shall be applied. Where, in cross-border disputes, more than one Member State covers the network concerned, the Member States concerned shall consult each other with a view to ensuring that this Directive is applied consistently. Where the upstream pipeline network originates from a third country and connects to at least one Member State, the Member States concerned shall consult each other and the Member State where the first entry point to the Member States’ network is located shall consult the third country concerned where the upstream pipeline network originates, with a view to ensuring, as regards the network concerned, that this Directive is applied consistently in the territory of the Member States.

Article 33 Access to storage of natural gas

1.   For the organisation of access to natural gas storage facilities and linepack where technically or economically necessary for providing efficient access to the system for the supply of customers, as well as for the organisation of access to ancillary services, Member States may choose either or both of the procedures referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4. Those procedures shall operate in accordance with objective, transparent and non-discriminatory criteria.

When choosing the procedure for access to storage of natural gas under this Article, Member States shall take into account the results of the common and national risk assessments carried out pursuant to Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1938.

The regulatory authorities shall establish and publish criteria in accordance with which the access regime applicable to natural gas storage facilities and linepack is to be determined. They shall make public, or oblige natural gas storage system operators and transmission system operators to make public, which natural gas storage facilities, or which parts of those natural gas storage facilities, and which linepack is offered under the different procedures referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4.

2.   Paragraph 1 shall not apply to ancillary services and temporary storage that are related to LNG facilities and are necessary for the re-gasification process and subsequent delivery to the transmission system.

3.   In the case of negotiated access, the regulatory authorities shall take the necessary measures for undertakings and eligible customers either inside or outside the territory covered by the interconnected system to be able to negotiate access to natural gas storage facilities and linepack, when technically or economically necessary for providing efficient access to the system, as well as for the organisation of access to other ancillary services. The parties shall be obliged to negotiate access to storage, linepack and other ancillary services in good faith.

Contracts for access to storage, linepack and other ancillary services shall be negotiated with the relevant natural gas storage system operator. The regulatory authorities shall require natural gas storage system operators and natural gas undertakings to publish their main commercial conditions for the use of storage, linepack and other ancillary services on an annual basis.

When developing those conditions, natural gas storage system operators shall consult system users.

4.   In the case of regulated access, the regulatory authorities shall take the necessary measures to give natural gas undertakings and eligible customers either inside or outside the territory covered by the interconnected system a right to access to storage, linepack and other ancillary services, on the basis of published tariffs or other terms and obligations for use of that storage and linepack, when technically or economically necessary for providing efficient access to the system, as well as for the organisation of access to other ancillary services. The regulatory authorities shall consult system users when developing those tariffs or the methodologies for those tariffs. The right of access for eligible customers may be given by enabling them to enter into supply contracts with competing undertakings other than the owner or operator of the system or a related undertaking.

Article 34 Direct lines for natural gas

1.   Member States shall take the necessary measures to enable:

(a)

natural gas undertakings established within their territory to supply the eligible customers through a direct line; and

(b)

any such customer within their territory to be supplied through a direct line by natural gas undertakings.

2.   In circumstances where an authorisation, such as a licence, permission, concession, consent or approval, is required for the construction or operation of direct lines, the Member States or any competent authority they designate shall lay down the criteria for the grant of authorisations for the construction or operation of such lines in their territory. Those criteria shall be objective, transparent and non-discriminatory.

3.   Member States may issue an authorisation to construct a direct line subject either to the refusal of system access based on Article 38 or to the opening of a dispute-settlement procedure pursuant to Article 79.

Article 35 Third-party access to hydrogen networks

1.   Member States shall ensure the implementation of a system of regulated third-party access to hydrogen networks based on published tariffs and applied objectively and without discrimination between any hydrogen network users.

2.   Member States shall ensure that the tariffs referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, or the methodologies underlying their calculation, are approved prior to their entry into force in accordance with Article 78 by a regulatory authority and that those tariffs – and the methodologies, where only methodologies are approved – are published prior to their entry into force.

3.   Hydrogen network operators shall, where necessary for the purpose of carrying out their functions, including in relation to cross-border hydrogen transport, have access to the network of other hydrogen network operators.

4.   Until 31 December 2032, a Member State may decide not to apply paragraph 1. In such a case, the Member State shall ensure the implementation of a system of negotiated third-party access to hydrogen networks in accordance with objective, transparent and non-discriminatory criteria. The regulatory authorities shall take the necessary measures for hydrogen network users to be able to negotiate access to hydrogen networks and to ensure that the parties are obliged to negotiate access to hydrogen networks in good faith.

5.   Where negotiated access as referred to in paragraph 4 is used, regulatory authorities shall provide guidance to hydrogen network users on how negotiated tariffs are to be affected when regulated third-party access is introduced.

Article 36 Third-party access to hydrogen terminals

1.   Member States shall ensure the implementation of a system of third-party access to hydrogen terminals based on negotiated access in an objective, transparent and non-discriminatory manner, whereby the regulatory authorities shall take the necessary measures for hydrogen terminal users to be able to negotiate access to such terminals. The parties shall be obliged to negotiate access in good faith.

2.   Regulatory authorities shall monitor conditions for third-party access to hydrogen terminals and their impact on the market for hydrogen and, where necessary in order to safeguard competition, take measures to improve access in line with the criteria set out in paragraph 1.

Article 37 Access to hydrogen storage

1.   Member States shall ensure the implementation of a system of regulated third-party access to hydrogen storage and, when technically and economically necessary for providing efficient access to the system for the supply of customers, access to linepack, as well as for the organisation of access to ancillary services based on published tariffs and applied objectively and without discrimination between any hydrogen system users. Member States shall ensure that those tariffs, or the methodologies underlying their calculation, are approved by the regulatory authority prior to their entry into force in accordance with Article 78.

2.   Until 31 December 2032, a Member State may decide not to apply paragraph 1. In such a case, the Member State shall ensure the implementation of a system of negotiated third-party access to hydrogen storage and, when technically and economically necessary for providing efficient access to the system for the supply of customers, access to linepack, as well as for the organisation of access to ancillary services, in accordance with objective, transparent and non-discriminatory criteria. The regulatory authorities shall take the necessary measures for hydrogen storage users to be able to negotiate access to hydrogen storage and to ensure that the parties are obliged to negotiate access to hydrogen storage in good faith.

3.   Member States may provide for capacity rights allocated before 5 August 2026 under a system of negotiated third-party access pursuant to paragraph 2 to be respected until their date of expiry and for them not to be affected by the implementation of a regulated third-party access pursuant to paragraph 1.

Article 38 Refusal of access and connection

1.   Transmission system operators, distribution system operators and hydrogen network operators may refuse access or connection to the natural gas or hydrogen system on the basis of lack of capacity or a lack of connection.

2.   Without prejudice to Union and national decarbonisation objectives and existing requirements to reduce or switch from fossil gas consumption, Member States shall take appropriate measures to ensure that the transmission system operator, distribution system operator or hydrogen network operators refusing access or connection to the natural gas system or hydrogen system on the basis of lack of capacity or a lack of connection makes the necessary enhancements as far as it is economic to do so or when a potential customer is willing to pay for them.

3.   Access to the system for renewable gas and low-carbon gas may only be refused subject to Articles 20 and 36 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1789.

4.   By way of derogation from paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article, a Member State shall ensure that transmission system operators and distribution system operators are allowed to refuse access or connection, or to disconnect, natural gas network users, in particular to ensure compliance with the implementation of the climate-neutrality objective set out in Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1119, provided that:

(a)

the network development plan established pursuant to Article 55 provides for the decommissioning of the transmission system or relevant parts thereof;

(b)

the relevant national authority has approved the network decommissioning plan pursuant to Article 57(3);

(c)

the relevant distribution network operator, exempted to submit a network decommissioning plan pursuant to Article 57(5), has informed the relevant national authority of the decommissioning of the distribution network or relevant parts thereof.

5.   Member States allowing for the refusal of access or connection or for the disconnection of network users pursuant to paragraph 4 of this Article shall provide for a regulatory framework for refusal of access or connection or for disconnection that is based on objective, transparent and non-discriminatory criteria established by the regulatory authority, taking into account the interests affected, the existing requirements to reduce or switch from natural gas consumption and the relevant local heating and cooling plans established pursuant to Article 25(6) of Directive (EU) 2023/1791. Member States shall take adequate measures to protect network users in accordance with Article 13 of this Directive when allowing disconnection.

6.   Any refusal of access or connection and any disconnection pursuant to this Article shall be duly substantiated.

Article 39 Tasks of transmission, storage or LNG system operators for natural gas

1.   Each transmission, storage or LNG system operator for natural gas shall:

(a)

operate, maintain, develop or decommission under economic conditions secure, reliable and efficient transmission, storage or LNG facilities for natural gas to secure an open market, with due regard to the environment and the climate and the obligations laid down in Regulation (EU) 2024/1787, and ensure adequate means to meet its service obligations;

(b)

not discriminate between system users or classes of system users, specifically in favour of its related undertakings;

(c)

provide to any other transmission system operator, any other natural gas storage system operator, any other LNG system operator or any distribution system operator sufficient information to ensure that the transport and storage of natural gas may take place in a manner compatible with the secure and efficient operation of the interconnected system;

(d)

provide system users with the information they need for efficient access to the system.

2.   Each transmission system operator shall build sufficient cross-border capacity to integrate European transmission infrastructure accommodating all economically reasonable and technically feasible demands for capacity and taking into account security of gas supply.

3.   Transmission system operators shall cooperate with distribution system operators to ensure the effective participation of market participants connected to the grid in retail, wholesale and balancing markets.

4.   Transmission system operators shall ensure efficient gas quality management in their facilities in line with applicable gas quality standards.

5.   Rules adopted by transmission system operators for balancing the gas transmission system shall be objective, transparent and non-discriminatory, including rules for the charging of system users of their networks for energy imbalance. Terms and conditions, including rules and tariffs, for the provision of such services by transmission system operators shall be established pursuant to a methodology compatible with Article 78(7) in a non-discriminatory and cost-reflective manner and shall be published.

6.   Member States or, where Member States have so provided, the regulatory authorities may require transmission system operators to comply with minimum standards for the maintenance and development of the transmission system, including interconnection capacity.

7.   Member States may provide that one or several tasks listed in paragraph 1 of this Article are assigned to a transmission system operator other than the one which owns the transmission system to which the responsibilities concerned would otherwise be applicable. The transmission system operator to which the tasks are assigned shall be certified under the ownership unbundling, the independent system operator or the independent transmission operator model and fulfil the requirements provided for in Article 60, but shall not be required to own the transmission system it is responsible for.

8.   A transmission system operator which owns the transmission system shall fulfil the requirements provided for in Chapter IX and be certified in accordance with Article 71. This shall be without prejudice to the possibility for transmission system operators which are certified under the ownership unbundling, the independent system operator or the independent transmission operator model to delegate, on their own initiative and under their supervision, certain tasks to other transmission system operators which are certified under the ownership unbundling, the independent system operator or the independent transmission operator model, where the delegation of tasks does not endanger the effective and independent decision-making rights of the delegating transmission system operator.

9.   LNG, transmission and natural gas storage system operators shall cooperate, within a Member State and regionally, to ensure the most efficient use of facilities’ capacities and of synergies between those facilities, taking into account system integrity and operation and avoiding creating constraints in operating LNG and natural gas storage facilities.

10.   Transmission system operators shall procure the energy they use for the carrying out of their functions in accordance with transparent, non-discriminatory and market-based procedures.

Article 40 Confidentiality for transmission system operators and transmission system owners

1.   Without prejudice to Article 74 or any other legal duty to disclose information, each transmission, storage or LNG system operator for natural gas, and each transmission system owner, shall preserve the confidentiality of commercially sensitive information obtained in the course of carrying out its activities, and shall prevent information about its own activities which may be commercially advantageous from being disclosed in a discriminatory manner. If the transmission, storage or LNG system operator for natural gas, or the transmission system owner, is part of a vertically integrated undertaking, it shall not disclose, in particular, any commercially sensitive information to the remaining parts of the vertically integrated undertaking other than transmission system operators, distribution system operators or hydrogen network operators, unless this is necessary for carrying out a business transaction. In order to ensure the full respect of the rules on information unbundling, Member States shall ensure that the transmission system owner, including in the case of a combined operator the distribution system operator, and the remaining parts of the undertaking which are not transmission or distribution system operators or hydrogen network operators, do not use joint services, such as joint legal services, apart from purely administrative or IT functions.

2.   Transmission, storage or LNG system operators for natural gas shall not, in the context of sales or purchases of natural gas by related undertakings, misuse commercially sensitive information obtained from third parties in the context of providing or negotiating access to the system.

3.   Information necessary for effective competition and the efficient functioning of the market shall be made public. That obligation shall be without prejudice to protecting commercially sensitive information.

Article 41 Decision-making powers regarding the connection of production facilities for renewable gas and low-carbon gas to the transmission system

1.   The transmission system operator shall establish and publish transparent and efficient procedures for non-discriminatory connection of production facilities for renewable gas and low-carbon gas, in line with the capacities identified in the ten-year network development plan referred to in Article 55. Those procedures shall be subject to approval by the regulatory authorities. Member States may grant production facilities for biomethane priority to connect.

2.   The transmission system operators shall not be entitled to refuse economically reasonable and technically feasible connection requests of a new or of an existing but not yet connected production facility for renewable gas and low-carbon gas, except under the conditions set out in Article 38.

3.   For the purpose of the swift implementation of grid connection of biomethane production, Member States shall endeavour to ensure that the transmission system operator complies with reasonable time limits to assess requests for the injection of biomethane, make an offer and implement the connection, under the monitoring by the regulatory authorities carried out in accordance with Article 78(1), point (t).

Article 42 Decision-making powers regarding the connection to the transmission system and the hydrogen transmission network

1.   The transmission system operator and the hydrogen transmission network operator shall establish and publish transparent and efficient procedures and tariffs for non-discriminatory connection of natural gas and hydrogen storage facilities, LNG facilities, hydrogen terminals and industrial customers to the transmission system and the hydrogen transmission network. Those procedures shall be subject to approval by the regulatory authority.

2.   The transmission system operator and the hydrogen transmission network operator shall not be entitled to refuse the connection of a new natural gas or hydrogen storage facility, LNG facility, hydrogen terminal or industrial customer on the grounds of possible future limitations to available network capacities or additional costs linked with necessary capacity increase. The transmission system operator and hydrogen transmission network operator shall ensure sufficient entry and exit capacity for the new connection.

Article 43 Designation of distribution system operators and hydrogen distribution network operators

Member States shall designate, or shall require undertakings which own or are responsible for distribution systems or hydrogen distribution networks to designate, following a transparent procedure, for a period of time to be determined by Member States, having regard to considerations of economic and energy efficiency and economic balance, one or more distribution system operators or hydrogen distribution network operators and shall ensure that those operators act in accordance with Articles 44, 46, 47 and 50.

Article 44 Tasks of distribution system operators

1.   Each distribution system operator shall be responsible for ensuring the long-term ability of the system to meet reasonable demands for the distribution of natural gas in accordance with Articles 55 and 57 of this Directive including for biomethane injection, and for operating, maintaining and developing or decommissioning under economic conditions a secure, reliable and efficient system in its area, with due regard for the environment, the obligations laid down in Regulation (EU) 2024/1787 and energy efficiency.

2.   When so decided by regulatory authorities, distribution system operators may be responsible for ensuring efficient gas quality management in their systems in line with applicable gas quality standards, where necessary for system management due to the injection of renewable gas and low-carbon gas.

3.   In any event, the distribution system operator shall not discriminate between system users or classes of system users, particularly in favour of its related undertakings.

4.   Each distribution system operator shall provide any other distribution, transmission, LNG, or natural gas storage system operator with sufficient information to ensure that the transport and storage of natural gas take place in a manner compatible with the secure and efficient operation of the interconnected system.

5.   Each distribution system operator shall provide system users with the information they need for efficient access to, including use of, the system.

6.   Where a distribution system operator is responsible for balancing the distribution system, rules adopted by it for that purpose shall be objective, transparent and non-discriminatory, including rules for the charging of system users for energy imbalance. Terms and conditions, including rules and tariffs, for the provision of such services by distribution system operators shall be established pursuant to a methodology compatible with Article 78(7) in a non-discriminatory and cost-reflective manner and shall be published.

7.   Distribution system operators shall cooperate with transmission system operators to ensure the effective participation of market participants connected to their infrastructure in retail, wholesale and balancing markets in the entry-exit system to which the distribution system belongs or is connected to.

8.   The distribution system operators shall not be entitled to refuse economically reasonable and technically feasible connection requests of a new or existing but not yet connected production facility for renewable gas and low-carbon gas, except under the conditions set out in Article 38.

Article 45 Decision-making powers regarding the connection of production facilities for renewable gas and low-carbon gas to the distribution system

Regulatory authorities shall require the distribution system operator to publish transparent and efficient procedures for non-discriminatory connection of production facilities for renewable gas and low-carbon gas. Those procedures shall be subject to approval by the regulatory authorities. Member States may grant production facilities for biomethane priority to connect.

For the purpose of the swift implementation of grid connection of biomethane production, Member States shall endeavour to ensure that the distribution system operator complies with reasonable time limits to assess requests for the injection of biomethane, make an offer and implement the connection, under the monitoring by the regulatory authorities carried out in accordance with Article 78(1), point (t).

Article 46 Unbundling of distribution system operators and hydrogen distribution network operators

1.   Where the distribution system operator or the hydrogen distribution network operator is part of a vertically integrated undertaking, it shall be independent at least in terms of its legal form, organisation and decision making from other activities not relating to distribution or hydrogen distribution. Those rules shall not create an obligation to separate the ownership of assets of the distribution system or the hydrogen distribution network from the vertically integrated undertaking. Member States may provide that hydrogen distribution network operators are able to rent or lease hydrogen network assets from other distribution system owners, distribution system operators or hydrogen distribution network operators within the same undertaking. Such renting or leasing shall not lead to cross-subsidies between different operators.

2.   In addition to the requirements laid down in paragraph 1, where the distribution system operator or the hydrogen distribution network operator is part of a vertically integrated undertaking, it shall be independent in terms of its organisation and decision-making from the other activities not related to distribution or hydrogen distribution. In order to achieve this, the following minimum criteria shall apply:

(a)

management of the distribution system operator or the hydrogen distribution network operator shall not participate in company structures of the integrated natural gas undertaking or the vertically integrated undertaking responsible, directly or indirectly, for the day-to-day operation of the production, transmission, and supply of natural gas and hydrogen;

(b)

appropriate measures shall be taken to ensure that the professional interests of persons responsible for the management of the distribution system operator or the hydrogen distribution network operator are taken into account in a manner that ensures that they are capable of acting independently;

(c)

the distribution system operator or the hydrogen distribution network operator shall have effective decision-making rights, independent from the integrated natural gas undertaking or the vertically integrated undertaking, with respect to assets necessary to operate, maintain or develop the network; in order to fulfil those tasks, the distribution system operator or the hydrogen distribution network operator shall have at its disposal the necessary resources including human, technical, financial and physical resources; this shall not prevent the existence of appropriate coordination mechanisms to ensure that the economic and management supervision rights of the parent company in respect of return on assets, regulated indirectly in accordance with Article 78(7), in a subsidiary are protected; in particular, this shall enable the parent company to approve the annual financial plan, or any equivalent instrument, of the distribution system operator or the hydrogen distribution network operator and to set global limits on the levels of indebtedness of its subsidiary; it shall not permit the parent company to give instructions regarding day-to-day operations, nor with respect to individual decisions concerning the construction or upgrading of distribution lines, that do not exceed the terms of the approved financial plan, or any equivalent instrument;

(d)

the distribution system operator or the hydrogen distribution network operator shall establish a compliance programme which sets out measures taken to ensure that discriminatory conduct is excluded, and shall ensure that observance of that compliance programme is adequately monitored; the compliance programme shall set out the specific obligations of employees to meet that objective; an annual report, setting out the measures taken, shall be submitted by the person or body responsible for monitoring the compliance programme, or the compliance officer of the distribution system operator or the hydrogen distribution network operator to the regulatory authority and shall be published; the compliance officer of the distribution system operator or the hydrogen distribution network operator shall be fully independent and shall have access to all the necessary information of the distribution system operator or hydrogen distribution network operator and any affiliated undertaking to fulfil the compliance officer’s task.

3.   Where the distribution system operator or the hydrogen distribution network operator is part of a vertically integrated undertaking, the Member States shall ensure that the activities of the distribution system operator or the hydrogen distribution network operator are monitored by regulatory authorities or other competent bodies so that it cannot take advantage of its vertical integration to distort competition. In particular, vertically integrated distribution system operators or hydrogen distribution network operators shall not, in their communication and branding, create confusion in respect of the separate identity of the supply branch of the vertically integrated undertaking.

4.   Member States may decide not to apply paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 to distribution system operators which are part of an integrated natural gas undertaking serving less than 100 000 connected customers. Where a distribution system operator benefits from a derogation in accordance with this paragraph on 4 August 2024, Member States may decide not to apply paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 to a hydrogen distribution network operator within the same undertaking, provided that the combined number of connected customers of the distribution system operator and the hydrogen distribution network operator remains inferior to 100 000.

Article 47 Confidentiality obligations of distribution system operators

1.   Without prejudice to Article 74 or any other legal duty to disclose information, each distribution system operator shall preserve the confidentiality of commercially sensitive information obtained in the course of carrying out its business, and shall prevent information about its own activities which may be commercially advantageous from being disclosed in a discriminatory manner.

2.   Distribution system operators shall not, in the context of sales or purchases of natural gas by related undertakings, abuse commercially sensitive information obtained from third parties in the context of providing or negotiating access to the system.

Article 48 Closed distribution systems of natural gas

1.   Member States may provide for regulatory authorities or other competent authorities to classify a system which distributes natural gas within a geographically confined industrial, commercial or shared services site and does not, without prejudice to paragraph 4, supply household customers, as a closed distribution system provided that:

(a)

for specific technical or safety reasons, the operations or the production process of the users of that system are integrated; or

(b)

that system distributes natural gas primarily to the owner or operator of the system or to their related undertakings.

2.   Member States may provide for regulatory authorities to exempt the operator of a closed natural gas distribution system from the requirement laid down in Article 31(1) that tariffs, or the methodologies underlying their calculation, are approved prior to their entry into force in accordance with Article 78.

3.   Where an exemption is granted pursuant to paragraph 2 of this Article, the applicable tariffs, or the methodologies underlying their calculation, shall be reviewed and approved in accordance with Article 78 upon request by a user of the closed natural gas distribution system.

4.   Incidental use by a small number of household customers with employment or similar associations with the owner of the distribution system and located within the area served by a closed distribution system shall not preclude an exemption being granted pursuant to paragraph 2.

5.   Closed distribution systems shall be considered as distribution systems for the purposes of this Directive.

Article 49 Combined operator

1.   Article 46(1) shall not prevent the operation of a combined operator of transmission, storage or LNG facilities for natural gas or distribution system, provided that the operator complies with the relevant provisions of Chapter IX.

2.   Article 46(1) shall not prevent the operation of a combined operator of hydrogen transmission networks, hydrogen terminals, hydrogen storage facilities or hydrogen distribution networks, provided that the operator complies with Articles 68 and 69.

3.   Paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall not prevent the operation of a combined operator across the natural gas and hydrogen systems, subject to the requirements of Article 69.

Article 50 Tasks of hydrogen network, storage and terminal operators

1.   Each operator of a hydrogen network, storage or terminal shall be responsible for:

(a)

operating, maintaining and developing, including repurposing, under economic conditions a secure and reliable infrastructure for hydrogen transport or storage with due regard to the environment, in close cooperation with connected and neighbouring hydrogen network operators in order to optimise co-location of production and use of hydrogen and on the basis of the ten-year network development plan referred to in Article 55;

(b)

ensuring the long-term ability of the hydrogen system to meet reasonable demands identified for the transport and storage of hydrogen in accordance with the ten-year network development plan referred to in Article 55;

(c)

ensuring adequate means to meet its obligations;

(d)

providing to the operator of other networks or systems with which its system is interconnected sufficient information, including on hydrogen quality, to ensure the secure and efficient operation, coordinated development and interoperability of the interconnected system;

(e)

not discriminating between hydrogen system users or classes of infrastructure users, specifically in favour of its related undertakings;

(f)

providing hydrogen system users with the information they need for efficient access to the infrastructure;

(g)

taking all reasonable measures available to prevent and minimise hydrogen emissions in their operations and carrying out, at regular intervals, a hydrogen leak detection and repair survey of all relevant components under the operator responsibility;

(h)

submitting a hydrogen leak detection report and, where necessary, a repair or replacement programme to the competent authorities, making public statistical information on hydrogen leak detection and repair on an annual basis.

2.   Hydrogen transmission network operators shall aim to ensure sufficient cross-border capacity to integrate European hydrogen infrastructure accommodating all economically reasonable and technically feasible demands for capacity identified in the ten-year network development plan referred to in Article 55 of this Directive and the Union-wide ten-year network development plan for hydrogen referred to in Article 60 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1789 and taking into account security of hydrogen supply. Upon their certification pursuant to Article 71 of this Directive and Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1789, competent authorities of Member States may decide to task one or a limited number of hydrogen transmission network operators with the responsibility for ensuring cross-border capacity.

3.   Where appropriate for system management and end-users, the regulatory authority shall entrust hydrogen network operators with the responsibility for ensuring efficient hydrogen quality management and stable hydrogen quality in their networks in line with applicable hydrogen quality standards.

4.   Hydrogen network operators shall be responsible for balancing in their networks as from 1 January 2033, or as from an earlier date where so provided by the regulatory authority. Rules adopted by hydrogen network operators for balancing the hydrogen network shall be objective, transparent and non-discriminatory, including rules for the charging of users of their networks for energy imbalance.