Use of the grid

Updated: 19.02.2019

Author: Stijn Anciaux

A plant operator is contractually entitled against the grid operator to the purchase of renewable electricity (Art. 4 (5) RGD du 1 août 2014). Furthermore, the plant operator is contractually entitled to the transmission of renewable electricity. The grid operator is obligated to conclude the respective contract (Art. 4 (4) RGD du 1 août 2014). The contract shall be in line with a model contract drafted by the grid operator. The model contract shall comply with general legislation on grid use. As soon as the contract has been concluded, it shall be submitted to the ministry in charge and the regulatory authority without undue delay.

The entitled persons are the operators of renewable energy plants (Art. 4 (5) RGD du 1 août 2014).
The person obligated is the grid operator (Art. 4 (5) RGD du 1 août 2014).

Procedure

Process flow

The claim for purchase and transmission of electricity arises at the date of the conclusion of the contract (Art. 4 (4) RGD du 1 août 2014).

Priority to renewable energy

  • Priority to renewable energy
  • Non-discrimination

The grid shall be used according to objective, transparent and non-discriminatory criteria (Art. 54 (1) Loi du 1er août 2007). The regulatory authority shall ensure compliance with these criteria (Art. 54 (1) Loi du du 1er août 2007). Renewable energy plants are not eligible for priority use. However, the operators of renewable energy plants have the privilege of being exempt from grid usage fees (Art. 4 (5) RGD du 1 août 2014). Furthermore, the transmission grid operator is obliged to give priority to electricity generated from renewable energy when compensating for power loss (Art. 27 (10) Loi du 1er août 2007).

Curtailment

The transmission grid operator shall undertake appropriate measures in order to minimise the curtailment (effacement) of electricity from RES installations. However, the transmission operator can undertake significant measures ensuring the grid security and implying the necessity of curtailing electricity from RES plants. In this case, the transmission operator shall inform the regulation authority and propose alternative measures aiming at preventing inappropriate curtailments (Art. 19, Loi du 7 Août 2012).

Distribution of costs

Consumers

The consumers bear the costs of grid use. These costs are included in the electricity charges to be paid by the consumers. (Art. 21 Loi du 1er août 2007).

Plant operator

The operators of renewable energy plants may use the grid for free. Yet, additional services are subject to charge (Art. 4 (5) RGD du 1 août 2014).

Distribution mechanism

  • Final consumers - electricity supplier. The final consumers pay the grid use fees to their electricity supplier.
  • Electricity supplier - grid operator. The electricity supplier collects the grid use fees in behalf of the grid operator and transfers them to the grid operator.

Luxembourg

Further information