#2026-85France raises gas network maintenance flexibility and updates storage access rules
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This decision changes how France’s single gas market handles transport maintenance and storage access. From 2027, transport operators can set a higher small-work threshold for north-south network limits, up to 250 GWh/day, while still having to publish the level they choose. The regulator also confirms that, from April 2027, the Gournay storage site will switch to gas H and be linked to the Nord-Ouest entry/exit point, ending the old Nord-B product. For gas network operators, storage companies, shippers, and large gas users, the main practical effect is more flexibility in planning maintenance and clearer rules for future storage offerings. The regulator also rejected several market proposals to change congestion tools, so the current framework stays in place unless future events force another review.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- Raises the small-work maintenance ceiling to 250 GWh/day from 2027 for north-south transport limits, with annual reporting by transport operators.
- Moves Gournay storage to gas H from 1 April 2027 and attaches it to the PITS Nord-Ouest product; PITS Nord-B ends.
- Rejects market proposals to change congestion tools, so current rules on spread localisé and related mechanisms remain unchanged.
Obligations
What this law requires
Gas transmission system operators must set the 'seuil petits travaux' for North-South limits (NS1, NS2, NS3, NS4, EO2 and S1) at a level chosen by them, but not above the 250 GWh/day plafond applicable from 2027.
Gas transmission system operators must publish the level of the small-work threshold they choose in the publication of the maintenance/work programme.
Gas transmission system operators must provide the regulator with an annual feedback report on the small-work threshold regime, including at minimum the threshold chosen, the method used to determine it, and the level of congestion and restrictions observed.
Gas transmission system operators must provide any relevant prospective information requested by the regulator, including planned exceptional large-scale works and expected or forecast changes in flow patterns.
From 1 April 2027, the Gournay storage site must operate on gas H rather than gas B.