Rough gas storage facility: review of undertakings

The CMA reviewed the Rough undertakings placed on the North Sea gas storage facility, following a request by the operators.

• From: Competition and Markets Authority
• Published: 17 October 2017
• Last updated: 13 December 2017 — See all updates

• Case type: Reviews of orders and undertakings
• Case state: Closed
• Market sector: Energy
• Opened: 17 October 2017
• Closed: 8 January 2018

Administrative timetable

Published in line with the guidance on the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) approach to the variation and termination of merger monopoly and market undertakings and orders. Any revisions made to the timetable will be published on this webpage.

Date	Action
December 2017	Publish final decisions
November 2017	Publish and consult on provisional decisions
October/November 2017	Evidence gathering
17 October 2017	Review launched and initial request for evidence

Decision to release undertakings

13 December 2017: The CMA has decided that the relevant parties should be released from the Rough gas storage facility undertakings.

• Final decision (13.12.17)
• Notice of final decision to release undertakings (13.12.17)
• Press release: Rough gas storage facility undertakings to be removed (13.12.17)

Responses to provisional decision

• Centrica (4.12.17)

Provisional decision to release undertakings

15 November 2017: The CMA has provisionally decided that the relevant parties should be released from the Rough gas storage facility undertakings.

• Provisional decision (15.11.17)
• Notice of proposal to release undertakings (15.11.17)
• Press release: Provisional decision to remove Rough gas storage undertakings (15.11.17)

Review group appointed

17 October 2017: The CMA has appointed the group for the review of the undertakings.

Martin Cave (Chair), Jon Stern, Jayne Scott and Anne Fletcher

Responses to decision to undertake review

• Chris Dykes International Limited (9.11.17)
• ScottishPower (9.11.17)
• Transition Energy Capital (9.11.17)

Decision to undertake review

17 October 2017: The CMA has decided to review the undertakings in relation to the completed acquisition by Centrica plc of Dynegy Storage Ltd and Dynegy Onshore Processing UK Ltd (the Rough undertakings).

In June, Centrica announced that it intended to close the gas storage facility due to the physical deterioration of the facility which has come to the end of its design life. The closure can only happen if current undertakings required by the CMA have been removed.

The review will consider whether there has been any change of circumstances such that any or all of the current undertakings should be varied or revoked.

• Decision statement (17.10.17)
• CSL request for a review of undertakings (18.10.17)
• News story: CMA reviews Rough gas storage facility undertakings (17.10.17)

Published 17 October 2017
Last updated 13 December 2017 + show all updates

1. 13 December 2017

   Final decision published.

2. 4 December 2017

   Response to provisional decision published.

3. 15 November 2017

   Provisional decision published.

4. 9 November 2017

   Responses to decision to undertake review published.

5. 19 October 2017

   Timetable published.

6. 18 October 2017

   CSL's request for a review of undertakings published.

7. 17 October 2017

   First published.