About programmes

Each day before 14:00, all active shippers submit an entry and/or exit programme for the following day. The programmes are submitted to GTS per portfolio. The network point for the submission of programmes is the virtual point for transfer of programme responsibility (VPPV).

The VPPV, a virtual point in the system where programme responsibility transfers from entry to exit programs. This is a necessary condition for increased trading liquidity since all gas in the system will need to go through the VPPV.

GTS checks that the programmes are correct (see below) and informs the shippers of the outcome. If necessary, GTS may issue instructions to a shipper to amend its programme. The deadline for this process is 22.00 (day-ahead).

In an entry programme, the shipper specifies for each hour the total volume of physical entry for the specific portfolio (sum of MP1 and MP2 in Figure). Furthermore, the shipper specifies for each hour and for each counterparty the volume of gas for which the programme responsibility transfers on the VPPV.

In an exit programme, the shipper specifies for each hour the total volume of physical exit for the specific portfolio (MP3 and MP4 in Figure) divided over two exit flows: the exit flows for household customers and other customers. Furthermore, the shipper specifies for each hour and for each counterparty the volume of gas for which the programme responsibility transfers on the VPPV. A shipper with protected users (cf. Article 43 sub 1 of the Gas Act) in its portfolio must apply the damping formula. A shipper without protected users in its portfolio must indicate to GTS whether the shipper will or will not apply the damping formula in its exit programme.

Pure traders submit a trade programme, without physical entry or exit. The programme specifies the traded volume for each hour and for each counterparty.

Shippers can add their trade programmes to the entry and exit programmes; there is no need to supply separate programmes. When a shipper is using damping, it is advised that the trade program is added to the entry program.

When a trade is agreed upon parties should also communicate wheter or not they will take this transaction into account for the trade programme. Our guideline in this is that transactions concluded before 21:00 are to be included in the programmes. This will give parties enough time (before the closing time of 22:00) to include the transaction.

The damping formula ensures that for each hour, the combination of entry and exit matches the physical conditions of the gas transport network. Each day before 09.00 hrs, GTS publishes the parameters of the damping formula for the next day. The damping formula is only applied to exit programmes. The damping formula is described in detail on the GTS website.

As described in the Dutch Gas Act, the VPPV facilitates the transfer of programme responsibility. The VPPV is a combination of the trades on the TTF plus the transfer of a shipper’s own entry programme to its own exit programme. The VPPV is part of the programmes and therefore the information on the transfer of programme responsibility will not be updated once the programmes are fixed (at 22.00 day-ahead). Of course, trades on the TTF after this deadline are still possible, as well as renominations on entry- and exitpoints.

In order to ensure that the gas transport network is balanced over the next gas day, GTS will check the compatibility of the transfers on the VPPV as regards the counterparty, volume, time period and direction. For entry, trade and exit programmes without damping, GTS will check if the entry and exit amounts are equal for each hour. For exit programmes with damping, GTS will check if the formula has been correctly applied.

Examples of these programmes (*.xls files) and an explanation of their key characteristics (*.ppt files) can be found in the following files.