Based on the Regulation on the Internal Market for Electricity (Regulation (EU) 2019/943 of the European Parliament and Council of 5 June 2019) and Decree No. 408/2015 Coll. on Electricity Market Rules, a 15-minute trading and settlement period was introduced in the Czech Republic as of 1 July 2024, except for the day-ahead electricity market. 

Currently, only hourly products are available in the day-ahead market because the introduction of 15-minute products within the Single Day-Ahead Coupling (SDAC) requires coordinated implementation across Europe. The implementation of 15-minute granularity products is expected by the end of Q1/2025, except in Ireland. OTE, a.s., along with other nominated electricity market operators (NEMOs) and transmission system operators (TSOs), is in the phase of intensive preparation and joint testing. Market participant testing is expected at the end of 2024/beginning of 2025. 

When preparing the introduction of 15-minute products, the focus is on maintaining a functional and robust day-ahead market that meets participants' expectations. Transitioning to 15-minute products will allow better adaptation to rapid changes in electricity demand and supply, especially balancing fluctuations caused by variable renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. This shorter granularity will lead to more precise planning and balancing of electricity production and consumption, reducing imbalances and improving grid stability. Ultimately, this may lead to more efficient resource use and reduced need for costly balancing measures, potentially lowering costs for end consumers. 

We will keep market participants informed about the project's progress and further planning via our website. 

Documentation on the transition to the 15-minute interval can be found here.