Who are we?

3 minutes to understand CRE

CRE, the French Energy Regulatory Commission, was created on 24 March 2000. Its role is to ensure that the electricity and gas markets in France function smoothly, for the benefit of end consumers and in line with energy policy objectives.

Principles

Independence

from the energy market actors in fulfilling statutory roles

Transparency

in work produced and the procedures for drafting official decisions and opinions

Impartiality

to ensure the neutrality, fairness and objectivity of official decisions and opinions

Continuous development

Participating

in the construction of the internal European market in energy

Contributing

to the smooth functioning of the electricity and natural gas markets, for the benefit of end consumers

Implementing certain mechanisms

to support renewable energies, by organising tender processes

Regulating the networks

for gas and electricity, which are monopolies: setting tariffs and ensuring they do not give any user an undue advantage

Ensuring that consumers

are properly informed

Statut

An independent administrative authority

Objectives

Guaranteeing independence

for system operators

Establishing harmonised rules

for the energy networks and markets, to ensure that energy is able to circulate freely between EU Member States

Ensuring competition

between energy suppliers for the benefit of consumers

Ensuring that consumers

have access to the best service at a fair price

2021's budget

21,338

million euros

CRE’s operating budget is proposed by the commission to the French Finance Minister, and subsequently included in finance legislation. The funds allocated are accounted for in the general public sector budget. CRE is subject to over-sight by the Cour des comptes, the French Court of Auditors.

Parc d'éoliennes en mer

25,3

billion euros

Charges fixed by CRE for the tariffs for the electricity and gas transmission and distribution networks

Workforce

156 staff

(except collegial board)

as of 31st December 2021

2 independent bodies

The collegial board

Five commissioners, appointed for their legal, economic and technical qualifications, determine the main orientations and adopt decisions and opinions based on expert assessments from the various departments, under the authority of the president and chief executive.

CoRDiS

The Dispute Settlement and Sanctions Committee, known by its French acroynm “CoRDiS” (Comité de règlement des différends et des sanctions), comprises four members, including two members of the Conseil d’Etat (French Council of State), and two judges from the Cour de cassation (France’s Supreme Court). They are tasked with settling dis-putes concerning access to and use of the public electricity and gas networks between operators and users, and also with penalising infringements of the Energy Code.

Some key figures in 2021

16

public consultations

77

market participants heard by the collegial board

15

appearances by the president, chief executive and departments of CRE before the French parliament

53

commission meetings

13

decisions by the CoRDiS

Key dates

2000

  • Proposes tariffs for using the networks

  • Gives its opinion on regulated electricity tariffs

  • Assesses public service charges, arranges tenders for renewable energies

  • Settles disputes concerning network access

2006

  • Monitors the wholesale electricity and gas markets

2010

  • Monitors the wholesale CO2 markets

  • Implements ARENH (access right to nuclear power) and the capacity mechanism

2011

  • Sets tariffs for using the networks

  • Certifies transmission system operators

  • Gives the go-ahead for deployment of Linky and Gazpar meters

2015

  • Takes on 13 new roles in accordance with the “Energy Transition” Law (gas storage regulation, smart grid trials, etc.)

  • Able to audit information collected in the course of its work, with businesses covering the costs

2016

  • Proposes regulated electricity tariffs (“blue tariffs”)

2017

  • Regulates gas storage under the “Hydrocarbons” Law

2018

  • Obtains new responsibilities on supervising capacity mechanisms

2019

  • Implementation of the “Clean Energy Package”

  • New competencies on the phasing out of gas regulated prices and on the monitoring of electricity regulated prices

  • Implementation of the French “regulatory sandbox”

  • Approval of connection areas for biogas production facilities

2020

  • Settlement of the CSPE dispute by means of a transaction

2021

  • Review of contracts for photovoltaic installations >250 kWp signed between 2006 and 2010 (investigation of the safeguard clause)

  • Monitoring of the biogas certificate market

2022

  • Implementation of the tariff shield

In 2021

386

deliberations

20

referrals to the CoRDiS

13

decisions by the CoRDiS