Italy · it-pce-terna-gme-convention-mari-update

ARERA Approves Digital-Certificate Access for PCE Platform and Updated Terna–GME Convention Ahead of MARI Connection

Decision

BALANCING MARKETSMULTI-TIMEFRAMETSO-NEMO governance conventionplatform cybersecurity/authenticationbalancing platform integration (MARI)PCE forward transaction registration platformliability allocation in market coupling operationsARERA Deliberazione 405/2026/R/eel; TIDE (Testo Integrato del Dispacciamento Elettrico); TIDME; Regolamento PCE; Convenzione Terna-GME; EU Regulation 943/2019; EU Balancing Guideline (Regulation (EU) 2017/2195); Regulation (EU) 2015/1222 (CACM)

1Problem identified

2Consultation

3Proposal

4Regulatory review

5Decision

6Implementation

7Go-live

8Market impact

What changed

ARERA's Deliberazione 405/2026/R/eel (3 Nov 2026) (i) positively verified the regulatory conformity of the revised Terna–GME Convention scheme, updated to reference the MARI balancing platform and to refine clauses on confidentiality, liability caps (€500,000/year for day-ahead, €100,000/year for intraday auctions), amendment procedures, anti-corruption and personal data handling; and (ii) approved a new version of DTF 1 of the PCE (Piattaforma Conti Energia) Regulation, replacing user-id/password login with digital-certificate authentication for GME's IT system, with a 150-day transitional co-existence period for the old access method.

Why it matters

The decision operationalises Italy's connection to the European MARI balancing platform (first connection scheduled 25 November 2026) by ensuring the TSO–NEMO (Terna–GME) governance framework can support the required data exchange, and it harmonises IT access security across GME's market platforms, reducing operational/cyber risk for PCE users who register forward dispacciamento transactions.

Design impact

Price formation○○○

Cross-border capacity●●○

Liquidity○○○

Operational security●●○

Market participants●○○

Affected markets

Piattaforma Conti Energia (PCE)MARI balancing platformDay-ahead market (MGP)Intraday market auctions (MI)

Who is affected

Terna (TSO)GME (Gestore dei Mercati Energetici / NEMO)Balance Responsible Parties (BRP)Balancing Service Providers (BSP)PCE registered market operators

MD analysis

This is a procedural but consequential enabling step in Italy's TIDE/balancing-market modernisation: it formally closes the loop between the Clean Energy Package's TSO-TSO balancing platform architecture (Balancing Guideline, Reg. 2017/2195) and Italy's bilateral Terna-GME institutional arrangements, while also tightening cyber-governance of PCE as Italy migrates from legacy fase transitoria to fase di consolidamento of TIDE. No pricing or liquidity mechanics are altered; the design impact is structural/operational, improving cross-border interoperability readiness (MARI connectivity) and operational security (digital certificates), with limited direct effect on market participants beyond an administrative access-method change.

Rule / framework

ARERA Deliberazione 405/2026/R/eel; TIDE (Testo Integrato del Dispacciamento Elettrico); TIDME; Regolamento PCE; Convenzione Terna-GME; EU Regulation 943/2019; EU Balancing Guideline (Regulation (EU) 2017/2195); Regulation (EU) 2015/1222 (CACM)

Next milestone

First connection to the MARI balancing platform · 25 Nov 2026

Primary sources

ARERA · REGULATOR · 2026-11-03

405/2026/R/eel — Approvazione delle modifiche alle disposizioni tecniche di funzionamento della Piattaforma Conti Energia (PCE) e verifica di conformità regolatoria delle modifiche allo schema di convenzione fra Terna S.p.A. e Gestore dei Mercati Energetici S.p.A.

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arera-405-2026-r-eel