The FSR Specialised Training on the Regulation of Gas Markets covers the basic principles of gas regulation in the gas sector, as well as the most relevant and topical issues in Europe and worldwide.

After a general assessment of the gas market context, the course gives an overview on the various and diverse applications of gas regulation in different geographical contexts (ex. EU, USA, South America etc.). By comparing different regional gas market models, the course analyses the best ways to implement the existing EU network codes, namely the Balancing and Tariffs Network Codes.

Moreover, the course offers a deep insight on the basic concepts of gas regulation such as transmission tariffs, TPA and pipeline competition, incentives to new infrastructure, and price caps – with a practical perspective supported by concrete examples and case studies. Participants will have the opportunity to improve and exercise their regulatory knowledge, while developing their problem solving skills by working in small groups.

The aim of the training is:

• To analyse  the evolution of the world gas market and its practical implications
• To describe concrete models of gas market regulation
• To explain the different ways of  designing gas tariffs
• To assess the current status of implementation of EU Network Codes
• To analyse incentives for new gas infrastructure

The gas market world

• Supply/demand dynamics and recent developments
• LNG features and market forces
• Organisation of markets and hubs
• Evolution of contracts and trading
• Storage and security of supply

Gas market regulatory evolution

• Models of gas market regulation: Europe, America, and emerging markets
• Gas price regulation
• Regulation of the EU gas market: target models, network codes and their implementation

After the training participant will be able to:

• Indicate the main changes in the gas market and the current obstacles
• Compare different regional/national models of gas market regulation and indicate the benefits of their implementation
• Design and use tools to calculate gas tariffs
• Improve his/her own assessment of existing and future implementation plans of the EU network codes in his/her country
• Evaluate new gas infrastructure projects and find the optimal solution to ensure security of supply

Sergio Ascari

Born in 1958, graduated from the University of Pavia and the University of York, specializing in Public sector Economics.

Research assistant, research director and lecturer in Energy and Environmental Economics, at the Institute of Energy Economics (IEFE), Bocconi University, Milan (1982-94), and at the University of Pavia (1994-97). He worked extensively in the 1990’s on the evaluation of external costs of energy generation and use, also on behalf of the European Commission. In 1997 he joined the Italian Regulatory Authority for Electricity and Gas, where he was in charge of Gas Tariffs and of the Environmental Uni. Since 2002 he moved to International Cooperation where, on behalf of the Italian Energy Regulator, he worked for the promotion and harmonisation of energy regulation, capacity building and training of energy regulators in Czech Republic, Lithuania, Turkey, Portugal, Ukraine, Egypt, Israel and other countries. After leaving the Italian Energy Regulator in 2006 he became Gas Expert in the Regulatory Section of the Energy Community Secretariat in Vienna (2007-9), focusing on the Western Balkan gas market. Since 2006 he has been an Instructor at the Florence School of Regulation, in charge of gas training activities and a Gas Advisor. As Senior Consultant, working mainly with REF-E, Milan, Italy, he is active in the analysis and modelling of the Italian gas market and regulation since 2009. In the last 5 years Ascari took part in several research projects Europe and the Middle East, including: the Gas Target Model; Distribution Tariffs; Transmission Tariffs; Balancing; Storage and Security of Supply; End user gas price control.

Ilaria Conti

Ilaria Conti is the Energy Policy Coordinator at the Florence School of Regulation.

Her main fields of expertise concern EU institutional relations and EU electricity and gas regulation. After a traineeship at the United Nations and at the Permanent Representation of Italy at the European Union, she worked from 2005 until 2013 for EFET, the “European Federation of Energy Traders” contributing as Policy Advisor and actively participating in the work of the EFET Gas Committee, Task Force Iberia, Task Force CEE, Task Force Italy and the EFET Board. 

During the 8 years spent in Brussels, she actively took part in the consultative processes leading to the development of major EU regulations and Directives such as the Third Energy Package, the RES Directive, EMIR, REMIT, Security of Supply regulation. At the same time she developed her knowledge in the implementation of energy regulation at national level and actively participated in bilateral meetings, institutional roundtables with local authorities representing the views of EFET on the various issues discussed. 

She was appointed Head of EFET Italy in 2008 and Director of the EFET Rome office in 2012.

Before joining FSR, she worked from 2013 until 2015 for ENOI S.P.A., responsible for institutional and regulatory affairs. In addition to coordinating the FSR’s research and policy activities, she is the Managing Editor of the IAEE publication “Economics of Energy & Environmental Policy”.

Interactive methods give the participants an opportunity to be at the centre of the learning process.

Instructors guide participants in knowledge building and show the ways to implement theoretical issues in practice.

Participants solve real life problems and engage in lively discussions led by the training instructors. Training time is used for working in small groups, sharing experiences as well as applying new ideas and the learned concepts to relevant topics. Learning process is supported by an online platform that consists of all course material and extra resources 

Registration is open to all professionals of any level who are interested in having a deeper understanding of the gas regulation.

The training is mainly addressing staff from energy utilities, TSOs, banks and representatives from National and European Regulatory Authorities or other public bodies, but also academics and researchers with an interest in gas markets regulation. 

No specific academic background is required although a basic knowledge of energy regulation or policy making is recommended. The training is given in English.

The registration fee for:

FSR Donors or National Regulatory Authorities: 2, 800 EUR
Other organizations or companies: 3,800 EUR
Early Bird Special: 10% discount until 10 January 2017

The registration fee covers:

Course attendance
Access to the online platform during the course
Certificate of attendance
Coffee breaks, lunches
Guided tour of Florence and a group dinner in the city center
Shuttle transport between hotel and the training venue, back and forth