Today, ACER releases its report on the Irish gas transmission tariffs, assessing whether the proposed reference price methodology (RPM) complies with the requirements of the EU Network Code on Harmonised Transmission Tariff Structures (NC TAR).
What is the proposed tariff methodology?
The Irish national regulatory authority (NRA) proposes to:
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Apply a forward-looking matrix methodology based on marginal expansion costs, allocated between entry and exit points.
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Apply the same tariff to all exit points serving domestic consumption and a single tariff to all future renewable gas production points.
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Set rules on tariff discounts for any future storage and LNG facilities.
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Continue recovering allowed revenues for transmission services through a combination of capacity- and commodity-based tariffs.
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Treat the Corrib Linkline (the pipeline connecting the Corrib offshore gas field to the main ring of the Irish gas network) separately from the transmission service, recovering its costs through a separate tariff.
What are ACER’s key findings?
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The proposed methodology largely meets EU requirements, including the criteria for setting the flow-based charge.
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The criteria for setting non-transmission tariffs are not fully met, as the Corrib Linkline is treated similarly to a non-transmission service but not formally classified as such.
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Capacity forecasts used in the methodology might not fully reflect the most recent demand patterns.
What does ACER recommend?
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Clarify the revenue and tariff structure of the Corrib Linkline and formally classify it as a non-transmission service.
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Update capacity forecasts using more recent estimates.
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Assess whether the proposed methodology remains appropriate in the context of the energy transition and declining gas demand.
Next steps
The Irish NRA has until 16 December 2026 to adopt a motivated decision on the methodology.
