Security of electricity supply

Integrated energy markets and systems require EU countries to cooperate more closely when preventing and managing electricity crises.

As part of the Clean energy for all Europeans package, the Regulation on risk-preparedness in the electricity sector requires competent authorities in all EU countries to cooperate with each other to ensure that, in electricity crisis, electricity goes where it is most needed. The requirements include putting in place appropriate tools to prevent, prepare for and manage possible electricity crises in a spirit of solidarity and transparency. The regulation also introduces common methodologies to identify crisis scenarios and to assess short term and seasonal adequacy between generation and consumption of electricity to preserve the stability of the grid and avoid shortage.

EU countries should draw up risk-preparedness plans for electricity crisis prevention and management on the basis of the identified regional and national scenarios. The European Commission may issue opinions on these plans, which should be updated regularly and at least every four years.

In a spirit of solidarity, EU countries must agree on measures to offer assistance to each other for the prevention and management of crises, notably with the purpose of protecting public safety and personal security. To help design and agree on the application of this assistance mechanism, the Commission has published a Recommendation on the key elements of the fair compensation and other key elements to be included in the technical, legal and financial arrangements between EU countries for the application of the assistance mechanism under Article 15 of Regulation (EU) 2019/941.

The Regulation establishing a network code on emergency and restoration entered into force on 18 December 2017 and sets down rules relating to the management of the electricity transmission system in emergency, blackout and restoration states.

More about electricity network codes and guidelines

The Electricity Coordination Group is a forum for the exchange of information and coordination of electricity policy measures having a cross-border impact. It also shares experiences, best practices and expertise on security of supply in electricity, including risk-preparedness, generation adequacy and cross-border grid stability, and assists the Commission in designing its policy initiatives.

The group's members represent

• national government authorities, in particular ministries responsible for energy
• national energy regulatory authorities for energy
• the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER)
• the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E).

• Commission's opinions on the risk preparedness plans in the electricity sector (2022)
• In focus article “Energy security in the EU” – April 2020 (available in DE, FR, ES, IT, PL)
• Regulation on risk preparedness in the electricity sector (EU) 2019/941
• Commission Regulation establishing a network code on emergency and restoration (EU) 2017/2196
• Study: “Review of current national rules and practices relating to risk preparedness in the area of security of electricity supply” (May, 2016)
• Clean energy for all Europeans package
• Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER)
• European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E)
• Electricity Coordination Group
• Commission Decision setting up the Electricity Coordination Group (2012/C353/02)