Energetikos įmonių licencijavimo sistema
Žilėnas, Kęstutis |
Dziegoraitis, Algimantas | Darbo gynimo komisijos pirmininkas / Thesis Defence Board Chairman |
Gylys, Adolfas | Darbo gynimo komisijos narys / Thesis Defence Board Member |
Rusinas, Edmundas | Darbo gynimo komisijos narys / Thesis Defence Board Member |
Bakaveckas, Audrius | Darbo gynimo komisijos narys / Thesis Defence Board Member |
Šedbaras, Stasys | Darbo gynimo komisijos narys / Thesis Defence Board Member |
Pranevičienė, Birutė | Darbo gynimo komisijos narys / Thesis Defence Board Member |
Urmonas, Algimantas | Darbo gynimo komisijos narys / Thesis Defence Board Member |
Sakalauskas, Edmundas | Darbo gynimo komisijos narys / Thesis Defence Board Member |
Licensing of energy companies enables to implement state policy in strategical energy sector, where competition does not exist. Licenses are one of the most important instruments used by the independent energy regulator. This instrument not only allows perform the function of regulation under the licensed company’s activities in more efficient way and ensure the established level of service quality, but also ensures effective control over the different markets in energy sector. Licensing and regulation of energy companies is one of the functions established by the Law on Energy and separate laws for the different energy sectors and delegated to the National Control Commission for Prices and Energy (Commission). Licensing of energy companies started a few years ago in Lithuania. Shortly after the practical experience of the Commission revealed that inconcistency of some regulations which where in force, caused a possibility to interpret the same requirements of the legal acts in different ways. This circumstance did not allow the Commission to solve the rising problems quickly and objectively and to ensure proper and effective supervision of the already licensed companies. In addition, analysis of the requirements of the EU legal acts and of other countries experience disclosed that the licensing system which prevailes in Lithuania partially contradicts the competition principles established by the EU and diminishes the possibility of competition in the energy sector in spite of the liberalization and opening the market. The purpose of this master’s final work is to analyze the existing licensing system of the energy sector from the systematic point of view, to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the licensing system applied in the different energy sectors, to disclose the main problems of the system implementation in practice and to propose the possible solutions. This scientific analysis is divided in two parts. The conception, purpose and origin of the licensing, as well as implementation of Energy Company’s licensing in the Lithuanian legal system are described in the first part. The second part presents a detailed comparison analysis of the existing licensing system, looks over the peculiarities of different energy sectors and concentrates on the analysis of the licensed activities regulation and implementation problems. The particular attention is given to the principles of reasonable competition, its implementation and stimulation, and to the quality of service provided by the licensed companies and customer protection. Finally, the theoretical and practical conclusions of analysis are presented and suggestions of what should be done in order to achieve more simple and clear regulations for certain administrative procedures are drawn, the ways how to eliminate the imperfections of the existing licensing system and at the same time to ensure proper and effective regulation of the licensed companies and high level of service quality are proposed.