Special Gas industry and commerce. Natural gas industry and commerce. Entrance into the grid and liberalization compared internationally

The European Union wants to achieve a cohesive common market in energy in Europe. This applies especially to the possibility of developing commerce in energy across boundaries and free access to the grid. In the gas field the EU natural gas common market guideline that came into effect on August 10, 2000 is an important step in this direction. The initial situation and the state of conversion with respect to the gas guideline differ greatly among the EU countries. A subdivision of the gas market as in Germany, namely, a number of companies in the distance transmission stage, numerous companies at the regional stage (up to 40), and over 700 companies engaged in gas distribution, is unique in Europe. In the other European countries there is only one long distance gas pipeline company. The largest grid operators in this stage are Transco in the UK, Snam in Italy, Gasunie in The Netherlands, Gaz de France in France, and Distrigaz in Belgium. To facilitate entrance to the grid, the European states have chosen different models. Basically, negotiated and regulated entrances are distinguished. For countries with regulated grid access the fundamental model and the actual fees for grid entrance are controlled. In contrast, with negotiated grid entrance the individual market participant model and fee are voted on. Germany has decided in favor of the negotiated grid entrance that went into effect with the signing of the association agreement on July 4, 2000. Corresponding to the three stages of the Germany gas industry and commerce different models are agreed upon for the national distance gas supply system, the regional supply system, and the distribution system. With respect to association agreement negotiated grid entrance, the models of other countries have been studied to make the German fees plausible. Particulars of the UK, The Netherlands, Belgium, and France that are of interest to the German market are discussed. The liberalization of the gas market will lead to basic changes in the market structure and in customer behavior. The changes in the UK and The Netherlands are of special interest to Germany. The UK of all the European countries, has the longest experience with the liberalized gas market. In the mid 1980's the structure of the Dutch gas market was similar to that of Germany. Photograph, flow diagrams, tables, and graphs.