Energy, EU – Baltic States, Legislation, Lithuania

The Northern European power market Nord Pool Spot has been operating in Lithuania since June 2012.

Darius Bieksa, a member of the Lithuanian National Commission for Energy Control and Prices, says that the regulator's decision is necessary to look at whether a new market participant can provide quality services.

"Competition is allowed in this segment, but we have had only one market operator, that is, Nord Pool Spot, for some time now. Epex Spot now wants to enter the same market and offer its services," Bieksa told BNS. "This in no way prevents other operators -- a third or fourth one -- from coming and competing in the market", he added. 

According to Bieksa, businesses could immediately feel the benefit of the arrival of a new market operator, but household consumers may have to wait until the electricity market is fully liberalized. 

The commission said in a document that the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian power transmission system operators have drawn up a joint proposal regarding operations of other exchanges in the Baltic bidding areas. 

The regulator in May 2017 received an application from Epex Spot for permission to offer day-ahead and same-day trading services in the Lithuanian bidding area. 

Epex Spot is an exchange for power spot trading that covers Germany, France, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg.