FNB Gas for RAMEN determination

The consultation period for the RAMEN definition as part of the NEST process ends today. The energy transition is the central infrastructure project of our time. To implement it successfully, efficient and resilient gas transmission networks are indispensable. They secure the supply of natural gas during the transition period and at the same time form the basis for a climate-neutral hydrogen economy. This requires a stable, reliable and investment-friendly regulatory framework.

The RAMEN definition is a central foundation of the future regulatory framework for natural gas. Unfortunately, the Federal Network Agency’s current draft definition does not meet the expectations of network operators and investors and therefore falls well short of the goal of making regulation fit for the future.

Instead of a consistent, incentive-oriented and investment-promoting overall framework, small-scale individual regulations and selective corrections to the status quo dominate – unilaterally to the detriment of the grid operators. This results in a noticeably higher risk for grid operators and investors – with negative consequences for investments, planning security and speed of implementation.

FNB Gas calls for improvements, particularly with regard to the achievability and surpassability of efficiency incentives and the capital market viability of the regulatory regime, which does not place gas network operators in a worse position than operators of other energy infrastructures when advertising in the capital, as well as a reduction in the bureaucratic burden.

We would like to see a constructive dialog with the BNetzA in this regard and appeal to political decision-makers not to lose sight of the political dimension of regulation.

The energy transition cannot succeed without efficient and resilient grids.

The position is available in the downloads.