Written by: Karim Hammam
The Energy Market Regulatory Authority has approved a series of new regulatory amendments targeting the electricity sector, including financial guarantee applications, energy storage plants, unlicensed production, and technical support services. These decisions come as part of efforts to regulate the market and enhance the efficiency of power grid infrastructure, while establishing clear frameworks for the rights of users and companies alike.
New Mechanisms for Financial Guarantee Refunds
The new amendments included setting a clear timeframe for the refund of financial guarantees exceeding the required values at electricity distribution companies, with regulations stipulating that such excess amounts must be returned to beneficiaries within ten working days. The same deadline was granted to users to cover any potential shortfall in the value of guarantees. In the same context, a maximum limit was set for calculating guarantees for users who have demonstrated a commitment to paying grid consumption bills regularly over the past twenty-four years, with the obligation to refund excess amounts within one month from the effective date of the regulation.
Technical Requirements for Energy Storage Plants
The new decisions included strict technical controls for the construction of energy storage plants, as it has become mandatory for consumers wishing to build facilities exceeding the agreed capacity to use automated power control units and power-cut systems. These measures aim to prevent electricity from flowing into the grid in violation of contractual capacities and to ensure the necessary approvals are obtained from grid operators. The rules also emphasized that guarantees related to production plants linked to storage will not be returned until the facility is fully operational.
Remote Control of Unlicensed Production
The new regulations opened the door for remote management applications for unlicensed electricity production facilities, allowing distribution companies and relevant authorities to intervene directly in the covered facilities to implement emergency instructions issued by the Balancing Market. Operating entities are committed to notifying facility owners of the end of emergency situations within a short period, while facility owners bear the responsibility of restarting them according to specified conditions, with production that fails to implement emergency instructions being deprived of corresponding financial dues.
