Decision on Firm Access Methodology in Ireland The SEM Committee is today, 25 January 2023, publishing a Decision Paper on a proposed Firm Access Methodology in Ireland. The RAs note that this decision paper is only in relation to a firm access methodology in Ireland. Any possible changes to this policy in Northern Ireland in the future would be a separate decision. The concept of firm financial access is a market-based quantity which primarily relates to compensation payments when generation is dispatched down from its original market position. The concept of firm access is a market measure which flows through the settlement process as set out in the Trading & Settlement Code (TSC) of the SEM. In its June 2020 decision paper (CRU/20/060) Enduring Connection Policy Stage 2 (ECP-2), the CRU directed the TSO to develop a new methodology. In December 2021 EirGrid published the Firm Access Methodology Review paper. Following engagement EirGrid submitted an updated Firm Access Methodology Proposal paper in June 2022, this was published alongside the SEM Committee consultation paper (SEM-22-068) on 27 September 2022. The RAs are of the view that there are a number of areas that will require further consideration beyond this decision paper. These elements will require further engagement with EirGrid to develop more detail on how these will be defined and work. It is envisaged that this work will be captured as part of a more detailed methodology paper. |