NMa Places Market Approach at the Centre of Energy Regulation

As of 1 October 2005, the Office of Energy Regulation (DTe), the part of NMa which regulates the energy sector, will have a new organisational structure. In reorganising the Management Board, the regulator has opted for a market-focused structure which allows it to respond as effectively as possible to recent market developments. In addition, DTe wishes to raise its profile in the energy sector.

A number of important external developments are the reason for introducing the new organisational structure. For instance, DTe has acquired a number of new tasks and several existing tasks have been expanded. Examples of these include consumer protection, market monitoring and the regulation of the gas market.

The new organisational structure has three market units, an Enforcement Unit and two staff departments:

- Consumer Market Unit

- Grid and Network Companies Unit

- Wholesale Market Unit

- Enforcement Unit

- Audit Department

- Information Management & Operations Department.

The three market units are responsible for developing policy in relation to regulation and implementation of the respective market segments, whereby the relationship between the various instruments is guaranteed (drawing up codes, policy rules etc.). At the same time, verification of compliance (the audits) and their assessment (enforcement) have deliberately been separated from the market units.

The enforcement activities have been organised within a separate unit. These are the crucial activities which are part of DTe's primary task. The audit tasks are organised within the Audit Department, since these are support tasks. In addition, DTe's new organisation includes the staff department of Information Management & Operations. This staff department is responsible for knowledge management, information and data management, process management and evaluation.

The new organisational chart can be downloaded from DTe's website ( www.acm.nl).