Common rules for internal electricity market
A European Directive concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union in December 1996. The Directive establishes common rules for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity within the European Community. It lays down the rules relating to the organization and functioning of the electricity sector, access to the market, the criteria and procedures applicable to calls for tender and the granting of authorizations, and the operation of systems. Provision is made for electricity to be supplied to enterprises in a Member State other than that of the supplier. Initially, the market will only be opened for the supply of consumers using more than 40 GWh per year. This threshold will be halved after three years, and after a further three years will be reduced to 9 GWh per year. The Directive calls on Member States to take appropriate measures to ensure that all suppliers authorized by an EU Member State are allowed entry to their national electricity supply markets.