Transmission grid code harmonization and network development and investment planning economic appraisal methodology for regulators in Europe and Eurasia

VIS was commissioned by NARUC, on a USAID-funder project, to support the regulatory authorities in the Western Balkan (Albania, BiH, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia) and Black Sea (Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine) countries with the appraisal of natural gas investments and the development of rules for the operator of their gas transmission systems. The project included: (1) formulation of regional and national methodologies to conduct economic appraisals of gas infrastructure expansion and network plans, and (2) targeted technical assistance on regulations and/or grid code revisions at the transmission system level. The project resulted in the development of a regulatory guide, specifying the steps and methodologies to be followed for conducting economic appraisals of gas transmission development plans, and targeted support to regulatory authorities for formulating their national methodologies for economic appraisals of TYNDP projects. It also included support to the regulators to align with the EC 3rd Energy Package and the EC Gas Network Codes, particularly regarding gas balancing, capacity booking & congestion management, nominations, allocation of volumes and TSO-DSO interactions, quality of service, loss reduction, and gas forecasting.