Garrett Blaney Elected Chair for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and President of Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER)
Thursday, 21 September 2017: Commissioner Garrett Blaney of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), has been elected as the next Chairman of the Board of Regulators of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and the next President of the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER).
ACER is a European Union Agency and was created under the Third Energy Package to further progress the completion of the internal energy market in both electricity and natural gas. The CEER was established in 2000 to provide a cooperative platform for the independent energy regulators of Europe. CEER’s work includes international cooperation, smart grids, sustainability, demand side management and customer protection issues.
Both agencies act as the main regulatory authorities with responsibility for implementing European energy policy and are central to the establishment of new energy market rules.
Garrett Blaney has been a member of the Commission for Energy Regulation since 2010, and acted as Chairperson from February 2014 to February 2017. He will succeed Lord Mogg, former Chairman of UK energy Regulator OFGEM, in both roles as of 6 November 2017, while remaining as a Commissioner with the CER.
Commenting on the appointment, Dr Paul McGowan, Chairperson of the CER, said: “At a time of great change across all areas of EU energy policy, this is a significant appointment. It is a recognition of the dedication and hard work at both CEER and at ACER by Garrett and the wider team on behalf of CER. It is encouraging that our European colleagues recognise the value and experience that all regulatory authorities, including those from smaller member states, can bring to the table.”