Contract and balancing groups

New Standardised Balancing Group Contract

The new standardised Balancing Group Contract was approved by Resolution BK6-18-061 of the German Federal Network Agency dated 12 April 2019. It will take effect on 1 May 2020 and must be applied from that date.

• BK6-18-061 – Genehmigung der Modalitäten für Bilanzkreisverantwortliche (Standardbilanzkreisvertrag Strom) (available only in German)

If you are already a balancing group manager in the TransnetBW control area, we will contact you during the transition to the new contract. See para 1 below.

For new contracts, we require both versions of the Balancing Group Contracts between January and the end of April 2020. See para 2a below.

For changes to existing Balancing Group Contracts, we require both versions of the Annexes between January and the end of April 2020. This will be necessary only once the new Balancing Group Contract has been concluded. See para 2b below.

1. Conversion of existing Balancing Group Contracts by TransnetBW

The new Balancing Group Contract completely supersedes the current Balancing Group Contract with effect from 1 May 2020. (Source: Stipulation by the Federal Network Agency on the standardisation of Balancing Group Contracts (electricity) dated 29 June 2011, file reference BK6-06-013).

The above Resolution obliges TransnetBW to replace all existing Balancing Group Contracts in place with the balancing group managers by concluding the new Standardised Contract prescribed by the Federal Network Agency.

Beginning in January 2020, therefore, all balancing group managers will receive an e-mail containing the new Balancing Group Contract in electronic form, including the pre-filled Annexes. Because we are already using Annex 2 from the new Balancing Group Contract, however, this will not be sent again. If changes are required on your part, please attach and submit an updated copy of Annex 2.

Two copies of the completed and signed Balancing Group Contract should be sent by post to the Balancing Group Management team at the following address:

TransnetBW GmbH
Bilanzkreismanagement [Balancing Group Management]
Osloer Str. 15-17
70173 Stuttgart
Germany

See the “Downloads” area for additional important information about the change of contract:

• Transition to new Standardised Balancing Group Contract + Checklist

If you do not conclude a new Balancing Group Contract for the TransnetBW control area, you will not have a valid Balancing Group Contract in the TransnetBW control area after 1 May 2020. The balancing groups under the current Balancing Group Contract will cease to apply from the end of 30 April 2020.

2. Amendment to existing Balancing Group Contracts

a) New contract concluded prior to 1 May 2020

During the transitional period from January to April 2020, both versions of the Balancing Group Contract (version dated 29 June 2011 and the new version) must be concluded in parallel.

The remaining documents and certificates are also required to conclude the contract:

• Additional relevant documents

b) Changes to existing Balancing Group Contracts prior to 30 April 2020

During the transitional period between January and April 2020, if you have concluded both versions of the Contract, you must sign and return both versions of all required Annexes belonging to each Contract to Balancing Group Management at TransnetBW.

3. New Balancing Group Contract concluded after 1 May 2020

In addition to the completed and signed contract, the following documents are required to conclude a new Balancing Group Contract in the control area of TransnetBW with effect from 1 May 2020:

• Additional relevant documents

In addition to the documents listed, the Balancing Group Contract must be submitted in duplicate on paper to TransnetBW.

An overview of valid balancing groups in the control area of TransnetBW is available in the document “Balancing group overview” in the download area.

You will find the FAQ for the new balancing group contract and the implementation guide for the Urgent Call on Downloads.

Balancing groups

Balancing groups are virtual energy accounts that allow market players to balance all actual feed-ins and withdrawals allocated to them and keep them aligned by means of schedules. The balancing group manager (BKV) in each case is responsible for the balanced quarter-hourly current account of his or her balancing group. Balancing groups receive a unique Energy Identification Code (EIC). The EIC for (sub-) balancing groups is assigned by the BDEW (German Association of Energy and Water Industries) or at the responsible LIO (Local Issuing Office) of the ENTSO-E (European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity).

Existing balancing accounts in the TransnetBW control area

Existing balancing accounts (11YW1, etc.) in the control area of TransnetBW must be managed like sub-balancing groups, except for participation in schedule management. Each BKV is responsible for the precise allocation of his or her balancing accounts. The remaining provisions of the standardised Balancing Group Contract apply equally to balancing accounts. No new balancing accounts will be allocated.