Impact on Network tariffs. The remaining share of the investment after EU funding financed by the project promoters will be socialized in the TSO tariffs. The project promoters have presented the effects of the projects to tariffs with assumption of 50% EU funding. The Finnish tariff calculation is based on the reasonable return calculations set by the Finnish NRA in the regulatory methods. Reasonable return is calculated based on regulated asset base with use of WACC. The Finnish TSO has presented that the project will raise tariff by 2,6% – 3,2%, depending on WACC, to perpetuity with assumption of 50% of EU funding. For the Swedish TSO to fulfil its profitability target, tariffs will need to increase to cover interest costs and the depreciation costs related to the part of the investment costs funded by the TSO after the EU funding. At the time of commissioning of the projects, this increase translates to a less than 1% increase when compared to the projected level of tariff revenues stemming from the infrastructure cost tariff.
Impact on Network tariffs. The concerned NRAs have assessed the project promoters’ tariff calculation while considering the comments made by the Finnish TSO in its consultation response to project promoters on 29 March 2016 and to NRAs on 20 April 2016. The project promoters have stated that over the first two years of operation (2020 - 2021) the size of transmission charges are set at the level to cover the OPEX of the particular period. Revenues from capacity booking on the Balticconnector are distributed equally between Finland and Estonia. From 2022 the Balticconnector and Estonia-Latvia Enhancement are expected to be given to the market use in the framework of Finnish-Baltic single entry-exit zone. The costs will be socialized in the TSO tariffs. The share of the investment financed by the project promoters will be included in the TSO tariffs in Estonia and in Finland, where a single TSO-model or two TSO model will be applied. The Finnish part of the investment will be financed by the state equity (part not covered by EU funding) and the tariff will be set at the level of OPEX and financing expenses. The Estonian tariff calculation will be approved by the Estonian regulator. The tariff consist of OPEX, reasonable return and depreciation. During the investment period half of the reasonable return is included into the tariff. Reasonable return will be calculated based on regulated asset base and latest available level of WACC is used. Investment costs are divided between Estonia and Finland. The project promoters have demonstrated the financial need of the EU Funding using ‘the fund gap method’ where EU’s co-financing contribution for each country was determined by multiplying eligible costs by the gap rate and by the anticipated 75% EU co-financing rate. Tariff per MWh is calculated by dividing the tariff peak impact with average gas consumption in the peak year 2020 at different levels of EU funding. The EU co-financing is excluded from the regulated asset base for the tariff calculation. In case of lower EU financing rate tariff impacts are even higher. Tariff peak impact in Estonia at the first year of operation with 75% EU Funding level is 5,6 MEUR (58,84%) and in Xxxxxxx 0,00 XXXX (1,72%). In Finnish regulatory framework components funded with subsidies are not included in adjusted net present value of the network assets and no reasonable return is obtained on them. Finnish regulatory framework has investment incentive mechanism where components funded with subsidies are ta...
