Closing down information about the electricity market is making it worse
DiXi Group experts are convinced that such a decision requires proper justification
The closure of detailed information on trading results in three segments of the electricity market significantly worsens the conditions for the effective functioning and development of Ukraine's energy sector. This is the conclusion of DiXi Group analysts in their study.
Among the risks, experts name, in particular:
- increasing uncertainty;
- corruption component;
- deterioration of the investment climate.
Closing information about the operation of the electricity market "may contradict current legislation, complicates the process of European integration, creates obstacles for new market participants, and makes effective public control over the operation of the market and pricing impossible," the analytical study states.
It is noted that the restriction of access to information data was introduced without proper justification and application of the "three-part test" provided for by law, which calls into question the appropriateness and reasonableness of such a step.
We remind you that on December 30, on the websites of JSC Market Operator (MO) and LLC Ukrainian Energy Exchange (UEB), notifications appeared about the cessation of publication of some data on the functioning of the wholesale electricity market, in particular the day-ahead market (DAM), the intraday market (IDM), and the bilateral contracts market (BCM).
The market operator has closed access to detailed information about the results of trading on the DAM and VDR, including all historical data and market reviews. Indices and weighted average prices on the DAM and VDR are available only on the start page of the site in a non-machine-readable format. This format complicates the processing and analysis of data, which reduces their practical value for analysts and market participants.
UEB has stopped publishing auction bulletins for electricity sales and weighted average prices, including historical data. These documents contained detailed information about RDD auctions, including data on auction initiators, starting and ending prices, electricity sales volumes, number and volume of lots, delivery periods, and other information.
DiXi Group experts believe that the decision to close detailed data on the results of electricity trading on the DAM, VDR and RDD indicates that in almost three years of full-scale war and attacks on critical energy infrastructure in Ukraine, a systematic approach to (non-)dissemination of information about the energy sector has not been developed.
DiXi Group experts have been emphasizing the need for this since 2022, and even proposed specific mechanisms for implementing such decisions. The policy of the responsible authorities should move from reactive, i.e., one that is adopted as a quick response to stimuli (massive attacks by Russia), to systemic, i.e., calculated and predictable, with a clear understanding of the consequences of the decisions made, and limited only to truly sensitive data that the enemy can use for further attacks on the energy system.
As "Ukrainian Energy" reported, the All-Ukrainian energy mutual aid campaign "Take care and modernize - let's get through the winter together!" is being implemented at the initiative of the DiXi Group analytical center and with the information support of the Ministry of Energy.
