ECRB releases annual report on contractual congestions in Energy Community gas markets 

The Energy Community Regulatory Board (ECRB) has published its annual monitoring report on contractual congestions at gas interconnection points across the Energy Community. Prepared in line with the Energy Community's congestion management procedures (stipulated in Gas Regulation (EC) 715/2009), the report assesses whether demand for cross-border gas transmission capacity exceeded available network capacity in 2025 and helps determine whether additional congestion management measures are needed. As Contracting Parties advance legal and regulatory alignment with the EU gas acquis, full implementation of these procedures is key to improving cross-border capacity allocation. 

The report finds that most of the gas transmission networks across the Energy Community remained largely free of contractual congestion in 2025, indicating that cross-border capacity generally met market demand. However, at two interconnection points operated by the Serbian TSO Gastrans—IP Zaječar and IP Kiskundorozma 2—no firm capacity of one month or longer was offered during certain periods (meaning that no guaranteed cross-border transport capacity was available at those points during those times). Because of this, the ECRB classified both points as contractually congested. 

The report also highlights that several Contracting Parties have yet to fully implement the congestion management procedures of Regulation  (EC) 715/2009, which are designed to make unused transmission capacity available to the market. The full implementation of these is critical, as is the timely and effective allocation of capacity at interconnection points between Contracting Parties, and between Contracting Parties and EU Member States. Both are essential for improving cross-border gas flow management and supporting full gas market integration across Europe.