Statutory tasks

As national transmission system operator is GTS responsible for the management, the operation and the development of the national transmission grid on an economic basis. It ensures sufficient transport capacity, balances the grid and creates/maintains connections to other grids. In addition GTS has the following tasks:

• quality conversion;
• flexibility services (under certain conditions);
• to monitor the reliability, quality and safety of the system;
• to take measures relating to security of supply (including peak-period delivery and supplier of last resort deliveries);
• to provide other network operators with information in order to allow for safe and efficient transport;
• to provide users with information that is necessary for efficient access.

GTS also has public tasks related to the security of supply in extreme cold weather conditions and related to the small-fields policy (the extraction of natural gas from small fields). To this end the company liaises with the Minister of Economic Affairs regarding the estimates for the next twenty years.

GTS is not allowed to carry out activities such as production, delivery or purchase of gas by means of which it enters into competition with other parties unless this relates to the performance of activities for the legal tasks.

The primary transport network is owned by N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie. GTS draws up conditions that lay down the minimum requirements of the technical design and the operation of the pipes and installations.

GTS is bound by the Gas Act. In this Act it is stated that the national transmission operator has to treat its customers all equally in equal circumstances. To guarantee that the procedure is correct GTS has drawn up a code, as is mandatory, in which is specified what can and what cannot be allowed. The Supervisory Board of GTS and the Energiekamer have approved this code. Next to this code a separate Klokkenluiderreglement (whistle blower code) has been developed concerning reporting potential abuses. All employees of GTS have also signed a letter for compliancing with the code. Furthermore the nalevingsverslag (compliance report of the code) is also published.