Working Group
Gas Markets
About
Established in 2009, the Working Group Gas Markets (WG GM) brings together European gas exchanges and gas hubs to shape the regulatory environment for exchange-based gas trading. The group’s focus is on supporting efficient, transparent and liquid wholesale gas markets that minimise counterparty risk and enable the trading of standardised products.
WG GM advocates for regulatory frameworks that serve the needs of market participants while contributing to broader climate and energy objectives.
WG GM safeguards the principles of market liberalisation, such as non-discriminatory grid access, unbundling and harmonised trading conditions. The group promotes the full and consistent implementation of existing EU legislation, including the Third Energy Package, the Gas and Hydrogen Package and the Gas Network Codes.
The group contributes to the development of a robust EU framework for trading renewable and low-carbon gases.
WG GM supports system integration and the development of a standardised, exchange-based hydrogen market. Key priorities include market design features such as virtual trading points, short-term balancing tools and certification schemes for renewable and low-carbon gases.
WG GM promotes a certification and verification framework based on Guarantees of Origin to ensure decoupling from physical flows. This enables cross-border and cross-carrier transactions and facilitates full tradability within the Internal Energy Market (IEM).
Head of Working Group
Frederick Bernthaler (ECG/CEGH) has been Head of WG GM since 2014. His main areas of expertise include gas regulation, M&A projects and project management for legal/commercial projects, including business integration and the implementation of new business-/contractual standards. In addition, Frederick is a lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences in Vienna and an examiner for the admission of traders at CEGH.
Frederick holds a Master’s degree in law, from the University of Vienna and the University of Oslo, as well as a postgraduate degree from the University of Bologna.
Over the years, Frederick has occupied a number of legal positions, including in the European Commission, legal counsel for Bombardier Transportation and Senior Counsel Legal & Compliance at OMV AG. Frederick has been working with ECG/CEGH since 2011 where he currently serves as Head of Legal & Compliance.
Head of WG GM
Frederick Bernthaler
Head of Legal at CEGH
frederick.bernthaler@gashub.at
+43 (1) 270 2700 28515
