ACER Greenlights 30-Minute Intraday Electricity Gate Closure Time Across EU Borders
On 2 July 2025, ACER received a proposal from the EU transmission system operators (TSOs) to amend the methodology for intraday cross-zonal gate opening and closure time.
On 19 December 2025, ACER approved the TSOs proposal, with some clarifications and adjustments.
What is the methodology about?
Established under the Capacity Allocation and Congestion Management (CACM) Regulation, the methodology sets harmonised rules across EU Member States for when electricity trading can begin (gate opening time) and end (gate closure time) in the intraday market.
The TSOs proposed shortening the gate closure time from the current 60 to 30 minutes before delivery, while keeping the gate opening time unchanged.
Shortening the gate closure time is expected to:
- allow market participants to trade closer to real time, giving them more time to respond to last-minute changes in demand and supply;
- support the integration of renewable energy sources and flexibility solutions; and
- help TSOs keep the system balanced and the supply secure.
What are the next steps?
From 1 January 2026, the first TSOs will start implementing the 30-minutes gate closure time, with full rollout subject to national regulatory decisions.