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.

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.


Statut

An independent administrative authority

Our key figures

  • 160 Staff (except collegial board)

    as of 31st December 2023

  • 371 CRE deliberations in 2023

  • 77 commission meetings

  • 13 decisions by the CoRDiS

  • 48 market participants heard by the collegial board

  • 19 referrals to the CoRDiS

  • 13 public consultations

  • 19 appearances by the president

    chief executive and departments of CRE before the French parliament

  • 22,6 millions of euros budget in 2023

    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.

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

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

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

Key Dates

2000

  • Proposes tariffs for using the network
  • Gives its opinion on regulated electricity tariffs
  • Assesses public service charges, arranges tenders for renewable energies
  • Settles disputes concerning network access
  • Investment approvals for network operators

2003

  • Extending CRE's powers to natural gas

2006

  • Creation of CoRDiS
  • Monitors the wholesale electricity and gas markets

2010

  • Implementation of ARENH 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

2013

  • Penalties for breaches REMIT

2015

  • Approoval of Grid connection conditions for experimentations and innovative storage or power-to-X solutions

2016

  • Proposes regulated electricity tariffs (“blue tariffs”)

2017

  • Regulation of gas storage
  • Approval of suppliers' grid access contracts

2018

  • Approval of contracts between distribution system operators and suppliers

2019

  • 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

  • Inclusion of EV charging points within the perimeter of the regulatory sandbox
  • Validation of distribution system operators' network development plans

2022

  • Implementation of the tariff shield
  • Emergency mechanisms in the event of tension in the supply-demand balance
  • Regulation of floating LNG terminals
  • Greater powers to control ARENH volumes

2023

  • Tighter regulation of investment by grid operators, particularly in industrial zones and for offshore connexions
  • Approval of network operator access contracts

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