Energy Administration and Institutions, Funds and Programmes
Public administration
Decision structure in the energy sector is fragmented between four different ministries.
- The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MGD, general energy sector planning)
- The Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (public utilities on a local level, urban and regional planning, natural resources, water and land rights, environmental protection)
- The Ministry of Economic Relations and Development (MEOR, privatisation, tariff and price control)
- The Ministry of Finance (ownership rights of state enterprises).
Ministry of Economic Affairs
Although the other ministries play an important role too, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has overall responsibility for energy policy in Slovenia through its Department for Energy headed by the State Secretary for Energy. The Ministry of Economic Affairs is in particular responsible for the preparation of the national energy strategy as well as for the support programmes to promote the efficient use of energy. Furthermore it is responsible for energy tariffs, the legislation and the exploitation licenses. Within the Ministry, the Directorate for Energy is responsible for energy issues. The Energy and Mining Inspectorate is a body wtihin the Ministry.
Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning
From 2001 to 2004, the competences of the Ministry of the Environment, Spatial Planning included the area of energy. Since then, its competences have been limited to the fields of the environment and spatial planning, and the responsibility for energy issues has been transferred to the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Structure within the Ministry:
- Directorate for Environment
- Directorate for Spatial Planning
- Directorate for European Affairs and Investments
The Department for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which is a part of Directorate for European Affairs and Investments (DEAI), has taken over the role of the former national energy agency AURE in 2005. Bodies within the Ministry:
- Environmental Agency
- Inspectorate for the Environment and Spatial Planning
- Surveying and Mapping Administration
- Nuclear Safety Administration
The Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration is competent for administration and regulation in the areas of nuclear and radiological safety of nuclear facilities, nuclear trade, transport and handling of nuclear and radioactive materials, accountability and control of nuclear materials, physical protection of nuclear facilities and nuclear materials liability for nuclear damage, professional qualifications of personnel operating nuclear facilities and their training, quality assurance in nuclear field, radiological monitoring of the environment, early notification in case of nuclear or radiological accidents, and international co-operation in the field of competence.
Institut Jozef Stefan Energy Efficiency Centre
The Jožef Stefan Institute is the leading Slovenian research organisation. It is responsible for a broad spectrum of basic and applied research in the fields of natural sciences and technology. The staff of around 850 specialize in research in physics, chemistry and biochemistry, electronics and information science, nuclear technology, energy utilization and environmental science.
A significant part of the work of the Jozef Stefan Institute reflects its concern for the environment. The Energy Efficiency Centre (EEC) within the Institute has the mission to promote sustainable energy development. It is involved in research, development and consulting in the field of strategic energy planning, greenhouse gases mitigation, energy conservation programmes and energy management, and acts as focal point for the transfer of new and innovative energy technologies, at the meeting point of energy users, the State, energy service providers, and other shareholders. The Centre is a member of the OPET Network and it is the Slovenian national member in COGEN Europe.
As part of its support for applied research in the field of ecology, the Institute is one of the founders of ERICo Velenje, the Institute for Ecological Research. In 1995 the Nova Gorica Municipality and the Jozef Stefan Institute founded the first private postgraduate school in Slovenia, the Nova Gorica Polytechnic. It has the status of an independent faculty, providing courses leading to master's and doctoral degrees in environmental sciences.
Energy related organisations
Energy Agency of the Republic of Slovenia
The Energy Agency of the Republic of Slovenia became operational in January 2002 to act as an independent Regulatory Body for liberalizing the energy market, opening up the market to newcomers, licensing new entrants and ensuring fair competition. The main tenets of their strategy include: Maintaining a sustainable level of electric power production in the present power plants (coal-fired, or oil and gas-fired and in newly constructed capacities (e.g. combined heat and power plants);
- Disengaging and decommissioning nuclear power production
- Increasing natural gas use by commercial and residential users
- Promoting RES (Renewable Energy Sources) in line with EU targets.
- Meeting Kyoto Protocol targets (CO2 emissions reduction by 2008-2012).
The amendments to the Energy Act from 2004 expanded the regulatory tasks to the area of the supply with other energy gases and district heating. The latest legislative amendments in 2008 entrusted the Energy Agency with additional responsibilities in the area of environmentally friendlier electricity production, as it now also issues declarations for production facilities, decisions on granting support and guarantees of the origin of electricity produced from renewable energy sources and in the efficient cogeneration of electricity and heat.
Authority and duties of the Energy Agency of Republic of Slovenia:
- Setting the prices for the use of electric grids. Takes decisions about the justification of costs and other elements of the price for the use of electric grids on the basis of data and criteria for the evaluation of cost justification.
- Taking decisions in case of disputes, originating from:
- denial of access to electric or gas transmission grids,
- charge for the use of electric or gas transmission grids.
- Granting of licences for performing energy-related activities in accordance with the provisions of the EL and the decree.
- Issuance of declarations for production facilities
- Issuance of guarantees of origin for electricity produced from renewable energy sources (including cogeneration)
Borzen d.o.o. - Power Market Operator
Borzen (established in 2001), the Slovenian Power Market Operator is running the electricity exchange, is responsible for clearing and settlement of transactions concluded on the organised market, maintaining records of bilateral contracts, drawing up schedules, accounting deviations, and publishing market movements. Borzen, which was previously owned by Elektro Slovenija, passed into direct ownership of the Government of Slovenia in December 2007.
As Power Market Operator, Borzen coordinates operations of the Slovenian electricity system. Furthermore the Centre for RES/CHP support, incorporated in Borzen, is the support scheme operator for the generation of energy from renewable energy sources and highly efficient cogeneration of heat and power.
In February Borzen’s Centre for RES/CHP support, based on the Decree published in the official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia No. 114/2009 on 31st December 2009, started to perform the task of raising and managing the funds for electricity efficiency programs in Slovenia.
Energy Restructuring Agency (ApE)
The Energy Restructuring Agency (ApE) is a independent Slovenian consulting company in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. Since the foundation of the company in 1991 it co-operates with all the Ministries and Agencies, which regulates this field (Office for Energy and Agency for Rational Use of Energy at the Ministry for Spatial Planning, Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry and Food), and local authorities (communities etc). In the international field it performed some projects in the framework of PHARE, THERMIE, SAVE, ALTENER and INCO-COPERNICUS programs.
Slovenski E Forum
Slovenski E Forum is a non governmental organization. The mission of the organisation, which was established in 1993 is to contribute toward sustainable energy policy on local, national, regional and global level.
Eco Consulting
Eco Consulting aims to assist energy supply companies, energy institutions and energy users to change their attitude in the framework of new energy market rules and new environmental demands from future generations. Eco Consulting is located in Ljubljana.
REC Country Office Slovenia
Besides the usual role of providing information, financial support and training to NGOs and local communities, the Regional Environmental Centre Country Office is responsible for facilitating dialogue between the NGO community and the Government. The REC Country Office provides services for grants management, capacity building and expertise. To Slovenian local and regional communities, the Country Office provides capacity building in the planning process of Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs), as well as on how to prepare projects, including implementation and evaluation phases.
SLOBIOM
The SLOBIOM is the Slovenian Biomass Association located in Jarenina.
Slovenian Small Hydropower Association
ZDMHE was established in 1988 and is member of the European Small Hydropower Association (ESHA). It is hosted by Ekowatt d.o.o..
Clusters and Technology Platforms
- Cluster for Sustainable Development of Energetics and Ecology – TREE
- Slovene District Heating Cluster
- Slovene Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning Cluster
- Slovenian Construction Technology Platform
- Photovoltaic Technology Platform
