Datahub Go-Live date to be postponed to 2022
The Go-Live of Datahub, a centralised information exchange service for electricity trade, will be postponed to early 2022. The initial target Go-Live schedule was April 2021. Postponing the Go-Live date became topical when it emerged that some retailers and distribution system operators would be unable to meet the current Go-Live schedule of Datahub. Datahub requires a simultaneous Go-Live from all market operators. A Go-Live decree is being jointly prepared by Fingrid Datahub Oy, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the Energy Authority. The Go-Live date of Datahub will be confirmed by a government decree in the coming weeks.
Fingrid is in the process of building Datahub, a centralised information exchange system for electricity trade, to compile data from approximately 3.7 million electricity accounting points. Preparations for the project have been made in close co-operation with various stakeholders. An amendment to the Electricity Market Act that entered into force in February 2019 obliges retailers and distribution system operators to use Datahub and take the necessary measures to prepare for the Go-Live of the services. All market operators must introduce Datahub at the same time.
Authorised by the Electricity Market Act, Fingrid Datahub Oy has collected information on the industry’s current situation and readiness to introduce Datahub. Based on the results, about 30% of distribution system accounting points would be excluded from Datahub were the Go-Live to take place in April 2021. Some market operators do not even have supply contract for the information system deliveries needed for the Go-Live of Datahub yet. The average Go-Live delay is 6–12 months. Based on further investigations and discussions, it is evident that some market operators have no chance of catching up.
Executives at Fingrid Datahub Oy, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the Energy Authority have clear views on the situation and future measures in the Go-Live of Datahub:
“We are disappointed that market operators have been unable to comply with schedules that have been known for several years. However, I believe that close co-operation, openness and improved transparency will allow us to successfully include all market operators in the Go-Live of Datahub. Datahub is an important project for Fingrid, and we will do everything in our power so that all the parties are able to reach the finish line within the new schedule”, says Fingrid Datahub Oy CEO Asta Sihvonen-Punkka.
“Datahub is a key part of the flexible power system of the future. Unfortunately, the delay in its Go-Live will result in financial losses and additional costs for the operators progressing on schedule. Other smart power system development projects may also be affected by the delay. Because of this, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is urgently preparing a decree stipulating the Go-Live date of Datahub. We expect operators and their system providers to work diligently with this date as their goal. Retailers must inform their customers in good time to switch to another retailer if they are not going to be ready for Datahub by the Go-Live date”, says Director General Riku Huttunen from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
“Based on the decree prepared by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Fingrid Datahub Oy will set concrete, measurable intermediate objectives for the Go-Live of Datahub and report on their achievement regularly to the Energy Authority. We will use this to monitor the achievement of the intermediate objectivesand will promptlyintervene if a distribution system operator or retailer fails to keep up with the new Go-Liveschedule for Datahub. The Energy Authority may, for example, give an order for the necessary measures to be taken and impose a conditional fine to enforce this. In the event of negligence, the Energy Authority may also propose that a penalty fee be imposed. We emphasise that distribution system operators and retailers have overall responsibility for their own projects and are therefore also responsible for the activities of their contractual partners. We expect all operators to take preparing for Datahub seriously now at the latest and to ensure staying on schedule on their part”, says the Energy Authority’s Director General Simo Nurmi.
New Go-Live date to take into account the scheduling needs of imbalance settlement
Fingrid Datahub Oy proposes 21 February 2022 as the new Go-Live date for Datahub. The Go-Live date is to be laid down in a Go-Live decree. The new date takes into account, among other things, the schedules for imbalance settlement changes. According to preliminary calculations, the additional costs of the delay for Fingrid Datahub Oy are approximately EUR 8–9 million per year.
Every effort will be made to ensure Go-Live, and the additional time required will be utilised as efficiently as possible. Fingrid Datahub Oy will prepare an updated Go-Live plan for Datahub by the end of 2019. The plan will include concrete, measurable intermediate objectives, the implementation of which will be closely monitored by the Energy Authority and Fingrid Datahub Oy. Fingrid Datahub will review the progress of the project regularly with both the Energy Authority and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The Energy Authority will play a key role in the control measures.
Market operators that have progressed with the Go-Live in accordance with the original schedule will use the waiting period to conduct testing and certification measures on a staggered basis, as well as test the Go-Live. Before the final Go-Live, all market operators must be equally prepared for the introduction of Datahub.
Further information:
Fingrid Datahub Oy, CEO Asta Sihvonen-Punkka, tel. +358 30 395 5235
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Director General Riku Huttunen, tel. +358 29 504 7277
Energy Authority, Director General Simo Nurmi, tel. +358 295 050 011