Principes
To complete its task of monitoring the energy markets, CRE periodically collects information relating to the decisions taken by the players on the French wholesale markets.
This information is collated from market players, infrastructure managers or managers of trading platforms.
For the purpose of transaction monitoring, it is necessary to obtain information on transactions and orders performed by the wholesale market players. To reduce the work load involved in this data collation for the market players, CRE prefers to collect data from brokers and traders.
In its analyses, CRE also uses public data sourced from various European market locations and professional trade reviews.
Where it deems it to be necessary, CRE may add to this data all the necessary information from those companies active on the electricity or natural gas market. CRE may also obtain data from any individual whom it considers may be able to provide relevant information.
Data collated
Electricity
Injections and withdrawals on the transmission grid
Monitoring the markets requires knowledge of the activity of players within the different wholesale and retail segments and the use of their interconnection capacities.
- RTE (French transmission operator) provides CRE with the hourly nominations for each network supply coordinator for each market segment (production, supplies to consumption sites, notification of block trades, VPP, interconnection flows etc.)
Utilisation of the production park
The correct utilisation of the French production park is essential for competitive price formation, in particular on the day-ahead market (purchase on one day for delivery the following day). Utilisation of the park must be consistent with the technical and financial constraints of the producers.
-
CRE collates declarations by the producers, sent to RTE as part of the programming/adjustment mechanism:
- production programmes (call programme)
- production technique constraints
- primary/secondary reserve constraints
- adjustment offers
-
CRE also collates the following data from the main producers:
- the information used to rate production by each production group on the day-ahead market
- information explaining unavailable periods for their generating stations
Production transparency
Since 15 November 2006, the Union Française de l’Electricité (UFE) has been providing the market players with production-related data via the RTE website.
Monitoring the accuracy of the information published, in particular provisional data, is essential to the correct functioning of the French market.
The following information is published:
- the installed capacity of the reference park, the stated availability and achieved production, by production sector
- the provisional availability by sector and by production unit with a capacity above 100 MW
- unplanned outages, in periods of 30 minutes, for production units with a capacity above 100 MW
Cross-border transmission capacities
CRE monitors the acquisition of interconnection capacities by market players.
-
From RTE, CRE collates:
- the results of auctions of interconnection capacity
- capacities traded on secondary markets
Transactions and orders on the French wholesale market
The stock exchanges (Epex Spot and EEX Power Derivatives) and the five main brokers active on the French energy market (GFI, ICAP, Spectron, TFS, Tullet Prebon) supply the information relating to the transactions for delivery in France which are performed on their platforms. The information collated relates to intradaily, day-ahead and future transactions and covers all traded products, whether their settlement is physical or financial.
- From Epex Spot, CRE collects orders sent for day-ahead fixing.
CRE also makes sure that trading runs smoothly on the EPEX Spot Auction platform, which has a major role in determining the day-ahead price. CRE also collates information relating to the correct execution of trades on the EPEX Spot Auction platform, particularly the price elasticity in supply-demand variations and delays by members in submitting their order books.
Calls for tenders organised by network managers to cover their losses
The loss sales market is a major outlet for players on the French electricity wholesale market. It is necessary to ensure that this market segment is competitive and that pricing is consistent with those prices observed on the French wholesale market.
-
From RTE and ERDF, CRE collates:
- offers submitted as part of the call for tenders organised by the two grid managers
- retained offers
Virtual Power Plant (VPP) auctions held by EDF
VPP auctions are a major supply source for players on the French market. These auctions are held by one seller only. It is necessary to ensure that this market segment remains competitive and that auctions are not subject to manipulation.
- From EDF, CRE obtains the results of VPP auctions (products acquired by each buyer, prix fixed by the auctions).
Natural Gas
Injections and withdrawals on the transmission grid
Monitoring the markets requires knowledge of the activity of players within the different wholesale segments and the utilisation of their transmission and storage capacities.
- From GRTGaz and TIGF, CRE obtains the daily nominations for each sender for each market segment (production, gas transfer title points trades, storage flows, border trades, flows to transmission distribution interface points, delivery to the consumption sites etc.).
Transactions on the French wholesale market
The Powernext Gas stock exchange and the four main brokers active on the French energy market (GFI, ICAP, Spectron, TFS, Tullet Prebon) provide CRE with information relating to transactions for delivery in France. The information collected relates to intradaily, day-ahead and future transactions. It covers all products traded, whether their settlement is physical or financial.
CO2
A CO2 data collection system is underway.
Go to page « CO2 Whosale Market »
Security
Data file encryption
The data requested by CRE as part of market monitoring must be sent in electronic format.
Those companies that wish to do so may encrypt any electronic files which they send to CRE. This encryption can be achieved using an electronic certificate (or public key). The use of a certificate provided by CRE guarantees that only CRE will be able to read the data contained within the files sent. Data security is guaranteed by CRE via a file encryption service “Common Criteria EAL4+ Augmented” certified by the Central Information Systems Security Division (DCSSI).
Data security is thus guaranteed within CRE itself.
If a certificate is not used, data may be encrypted using other methods provided that the file generated can be decrypted by CRE without the use of special software. CRE cannot guarantee the security level offered by these methods. For example, an auto-executable file may be created or encryption using a password in Excel.
The password used to decrypt the file must be provided to CRE by telephone.
File templates
The file templates which must be used to send the data required by CRE are available here:
