The uniform cross-control area imbalance price (reBAP) is used for the settlement of balancing imbalances of the balancing group managers (BKV).
In addition to its function as a settlement price, the reBAP has a fundamental function in the German energy market. It is intended to provide the right incentives for balancing group managers to close open trading positions before the transmission system operators (TSOs) have to balance them by using balancing capacity. This ensures liquid markets and an efficient allocation of generation and consumption.
The TSOs are therefore continuing to develop the reBAP within the framework of the Guideline on Electricity Balancing ("EB GL") and the specifications of the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) and are bringing European regulation into line with the particular importance of the reBAP for the German energy market.
In short, the reBAP
- is a symmetrical*
- quarter-hourly price,
- can be positive and negative,
- is based on the prices of the balancing capacity used
- and supplements these with further components that ensure the incentive function.
*In the event of a call-off of capacity reserve, the reBAP can exceptionally become asymmetrical in individual quarter hours. Further details can be found in the current model description for the reBAP.