Last update: IFA Access Rules Version 8 which will become active at the start of the contract day 1st January 2012.

In accordance with Rule A4.1.1 of the existing IFA Access Rules (Version 7 in force until 31st December 2011), RTE and NGIL publish IFA Access Rules Version 8 which will become active at the start of the contract day 1st January 2012.

Both NGIL and RTE have been jointly coordinating with BritNed, Eirgrid and Moyle to produce a set of rules which represent a significant level of common and harmonised rules across the France,UK and Ireland (FUI) region. In addition to the work of harmonisation, several changes are updated as improvements to existing IFA processes.

To this extent, IFA Access Rules Version 8 and change record are also available hereafter:

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IFA Access Rules Version 8 which will become active at the start of the contract day 1st January 2012	.zip (410 Ko)	.pdf (445 Ko)
Change record IFA Access Rules Version 8	.zip (830 Ko)	.pdf (832 Ko)

Documents updated on: 12/09/2011

1. Introduction

A joint mechanism for the allocation and the use of the interconnection capacity on IFA was implemented by Réseau de Transport d'Electricité (RTE) et National Grid in 2001. Following recent changes in the european legislation, RTE and National Grid have published jointly a new set of IFA Access Rules, compliant with the european regulation 1228/2003, which came into force on 1st October 2009.
Capacity allocation follows a market-based mechanism, based on explicit auctions, ensuring a transparent and non-discriminatory congestion management. The mechanism used on both directions (France-GB and GB-France) is based on sealed explicit auctions, on the following timescales: annual (calendar and financial), seasonal (winter, summer), quarter, month, week-end, day and intraday.

All auctions in both directions are governed by a unique set of Rules (IFA Access Rules). These Rules cover as well all capacity usage aspects relative to holding the auctions.

The results of the auction jointly managed by RTE and National Grid can be consulted in the RTE website “Operational data”.

1.2 Principles

The auction participant must access separately the auction system for a given direction. The auctions in both directions are held at the same time unless otherwise announced.

The capacity put in the daily auction in a given direction is increased by the amount of the capacities allocated in Long Term auctions in the same direction that have not been nominated, according to the “Use-It-or-Sell-It” mechanism. These non-nominated capacities are lost by the Unit Holder, which is compensated with the incomes resulting of the resale, at the daily auction, of its non-nominated capacity.

The capacity put in the intradai auctions in a given direction is increased by the amount of the capacities allocated in the daily auction in the same direction, that have not been nominated, according to the “Use-It-or-Lose-It” mechanism. A user that has not nominated a part of the capacity, loses any claim of any nature on this part.

The capacity put in the daily (resp. intraday) auction in a given direction is increased by the amount of the capacities allocated in Long Term (resp. daily) auctions in the opposite direction that have been nominated according to the principle of "Netting".

A Unit Holder who have acquired capacities through auctions (Long Term, Daily or Intraday), can transfer part of or all capacities to another user.

A Unit Holder who have acquired capacities through Long Term auctions can ask the TSOs to resell part of or all its Long Term capacities to a subsequent Long Term auction.

All the notifications relative to the congestion management on IFA (auctions, secondary trades, nominations) are made on a single platform, jointly implemented and operated by RTE and National Grid : the CMS (Capacity Management System).

2. Access provision

The provisions for access to the IFA interconnection are described in the following documents:

IFA Access Rules

This document provides details on rules governing the acquisition and utilisation of transmission capacities on the cross-channel link (IFA).

IFA Access Contract

This contract concerns the agreement between the users and the two system operators, National Grid and Réseau de Transport d'Electricité, formalising the adhesion of users to the IFA Access Rules.

Auction timetable

This document provides an indicative timetable for auctions to be run in the current year.

CMS User Guide

This document described how to use the Capacity Management System (CMS).

Auction specifications

The specifications of the IFA auctions are available on the CMS (Capacity Management System).

• Long term auctions specifications
• Daily auctions specifications
• Intraday auctions specifications

IFA access request form

This form is compulsory for all those taking part in the allocation process.

3. Conditions for access to the power transmission system of England and Wales

The conditions governing access to the power transmission system of England and Wales are available on National Grid's Web site.

4. Conditions governing access to the French power transmission system

A User wishing to convey electricity between the continent and the english system must sign an agreement to participate in the Rules for access to the French Public Transmission Network for Imports and Exports.

Warning: Under no circumstances is this page to be assimilated to the general conditions for the sale of power transmission capacities on the France - United Kingdom Interconnection by National Grid and Réseau de Transport d'Electricité.

5. IFA Loss Factor (which will become active at the start of the contract day 1^st January 2012).

IFA Access Rules (Version 8) Schedule 5, Rule 3.2 states that the Loss Factor applied is to be published on the RTE and NGIL websites. This notice fulfils that requirement.

The physical flow on the Interconnector is subject to losses. The Operators apply a Loss Factor (“LF”) to calculate each User’s share of the losses in regard of his netted nomination rights (as amended by any curtailment). The Loss Factor is symmetrical between Mid-Channel and either end of the Interconnector (Sellindge and Les Mandarins).

The Loss Factor applied is 1.17%.

As described in IFA Access Rules (Version 8) Schedule 5, Rule 3.2, any change to the loss factor shall be notified to Users at least 5 business days before the change is to take effect.

Warning: Under no circumstances is this page to be assimilated to the general conditions for the sale of power transmission capacities on the France - United Kingdom Interconnection by National Grid and Réseau de Transport d'Electricité.

	Download	On-line consultation (1)
Complete document	.zip (6,8 Mo)
Parts of the document
IFA long term auction timetable 2012	.zip (74 Ko)	.pdf (83 Ko)
IFA long term auction timetable 2011	.zip (72 Ko)	.pdf (81 Ko)
IFA Access Rules Version 7, in force until 31st December 2011	.zip (729 Ko)	.pdf (775 Ko)
IFA Access Rules Version 8 which will become active at the start of the contract day 1st January 2012	.zip (410 Ko)	.pdf (445 Ko)
Change record IFA Access Rules Version 8	.zip (830 Ko)	.pdf (832 Ko)
Consultation Draft IFA Access Rules Version 8	.zip (1,76 Mo)
IFA User Agreement Version 9	.zip (69 Ko)	.pdf (74 Ko)
FAQ IFA Access Rules Issue 7	.zip (86 Ko)	.pdf (93 Ko)
IFA Application Form Version 8	.zip (79 Ko)	.pdf (84 Ko)
Letter of Credit template	.zip (57 Ko)	.pdf (71 Ko)
List of information to provide in order to put in place a participation agreement as a Balance Responsible Entity	.zip (21 Ko)	.pdf (31 Ko)
CMS User Guide	.zip (4,9 Mo)	.pdf (6,4 Mo)

Documents updated on: 02/09/2012

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