Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Union
1.2. Contact organisation unit
[4D1_E3] Eurostat - Transport and Energy)
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
L-2920 Luxembourg
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
29 January 2024
2.2. Metadata last posted
29 January 2024
2.3. Metadata last update
29 January 2024
3.1. Data description
This indicator is calculated on the basis of annual data collected by Eurostat.
Eurostat provides model questionnaires to all data providers that cover the following areas:
- Number of generating companies representing at least 95% of the national net electricity generation
- Number of generating companies producing at least 5% of the national net electricity generation
- Share of generation and installed capacity for generating companies with at least 5% of the national electricity generation/capacity
- Amount of new capacity connected during the year
- Amount of capacity decommissioned during the year
- Total number of electricity retailers to final customers
- Number of electricity retailers selling at least 5% of total national electricity consumed by final customers
- Market shares of electricity retailers selling at least 5% of total national electricity consumed by final customers
Data collection covers the full spectrum of the 28 Member States of the European Union.
3.2. Classification system
Energy statistics are an integral part of the European system of statistics. Therefore, they rely on classifications and nomenclatures developed in other fields while classifications proper to Energy statistics are harmonised with the classifications used in other fields of the European system of statistics.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Not available
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Not available
3.5. Statistical unit
All electricity generation plants are included in the survey with the exception of auto-producers (production of electricity for own use). In case an electricity generation plant is co-owned by 2 or more enterprises, only the largest enterprise will be taken into account. For example if the electricity generation plant EUlectro is owned by 2 enterprises, Eurogen that has a share of 60% and the town Eurocity that has a share of 40%, the capacity and generation figures are allocated to Eurogen completely.
3.6. Statistical population
Member States must ensure that the national market is covered completely by the survey.
3.7. Reference area
Data collection covers the full spectrum of the 28 EU Member States of the European Union. Bulgaria and the Netherlands only reported an aggregated share of electricity generating companies that have a share above 5% of total national generation, and therefore the figure for the largest generator is not available. Information for EFTA-country Norway, candidate countries Montenegro, the Former Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and potential candidate country Bosnia and Herzegovina is also presented. Turkey declared this information from 2006 onwards as confidential.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Time series from 1999 onwards.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
The indicator is expressed as the percentage of total electricity generation at national level.
Annual statistics refer to the calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The data is provided by national authorities on a voluntary basis
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Regulation EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Eurostat does not disclose data which might be by their nature subject to commercial confidentiality. Such confidential data that is transmitted to Eurostat shall only be accessible to Eurostat officials. The confidential data may however be used for statistical purposes.
8.1. Release calendar
The date of data release is disseminated on Eurostat´s website (select language and release calendar).
8.2. Release calendar access
No particular provisions.
8.3. Release policy - user access
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat´s website (see item 10 - ´Accessibility and clarity´) respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.
Eurostat grants DG Energy of the European Commission pre-release access to energy data for quality assurance reasons.
Data are disseminated on annual basis.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
No news releases related to this dataset are disseminated.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Data is disseminated in the form of Statistics Explained articles every 12 months.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Eurobase data table
Eurobase graph
Eurobase map
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
No micro data is collected or available for dissemination.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not applicable
10.6. Documentation on methodology
General information on the relevant methodology is described in the questionnaire.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not applicable.
11.1. Quality assurance
Data is collected through a dedicated Eurostat annual questionnaire applying high standards with regard to the methodology and ensuring a high degree of comparability.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Comparability over time can be considered as high.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The indicator measures the market penetration of electricity companies at national level.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not available.
12.3. Completeness
From the 27 EU Member States.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Not available.
13.2. Sampling error
Not available.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not available.
14.1. Timeliness
Data is delivered to Eurostat between 11 and 13 months after the reference period.
14.2. Punctuality
Data is usually published in February of each year, so 14 months after the reference period.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Eurostat verifies to the extent possible if the reported data respect the prescribed methodology. The underlying data collection methods are however the responsibility of the Member States.
15.2. Comparability - over time
High comparability over time. No break of series was reported.
The revision practice effectively corresponds to the revision practice of the domain, as listed under sub‑concept 17.1 (data revision – policy).
Reported errors are assessed for seriousness to determine whether they should trigger a correction of already disseminated data. When relevant, reported errors are corrected in the disseminated data as soon as the correct data have been validated.
Data may be published even if they are missing for certain countries or flagged as provisional or of low reliability for certain countries. They are replaced with final data once transmitted and validated. European aggregates are updated for consistency with new country data. Whenever new data are provided and validated, the already disseminated data are updated either right away or with the next regular production cycle, depending on the impact of the change.
Time series breaks caused by major revisions are flagged. Whenever feasible, back-calculation is applied to provide break-free data.
Major revisions are pre-announced using the revision pre-announcement form. They are also documented in the validation exchanges with countries (available in Ares). In addition, major revisions (those with a visible impact on policy indicators) and their impact are analysed by asking countries for more information and by reflecting on its impact on major policy indicators. They are communicated e.g. via the relevant Statistics Explained article.
In case, only provisional national price data is available, this data is marked with a "p" (provisional). Incoming data is validated by Eurostat, by checking the information on consistency and completeness. In case of significant increases or decreases, the reporting organisation will be requested to validate and reconfirm the data. Revisions are usually reported with the next data collection. In case of significant corrections, data in Eurobase is updated on an ad-hoc basis. In case of major methodological changes, consultation procedures take place both with the reporting countries and the international organisations involved.
18.1. Source data
Data is reported by National Statistical Institutes, Ministries, Energy Agencies, Regulators or Electricity associations.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual
18.3. Data collection
In the field of energy statistics no specific data collection technique is imposed by Eurostat. It is the responsibility of National Authorities to collect the relevant basic energy data required for filling-in the questionnaires and reports them to Eurostat following the prescribed methodology. National data collection methods vary significantly from country to country.
Eurostat provides model questionnaires to all data providers that cover the following areas: - Number of generating companies representing at least 95% of the national net electricity generation - Number of generating companies producing at least 5% of the national net electricity generation - Share of generation and installed capacity for generating companies with at least 5% of the national electricity generation/capacity - Amount of new capacity connected during the year - Amount of capacity decommissioned during the year - Total number of electricity retailers to final customers - Number of electricity retailers selling at least 5% of total national electricity consumed by final customers - Market shares of electricity retailers selling at least 5% of total national electricity consumed by final customers
Questionnaires in standardized electronic format are collected from the national authorities via data transmission over the Internet. Data files have to be transmitted by the Member States to Eurostat via the Single Entry Point (SEP) following the implementing procedures of eDAMIS (electronic Data files Administration and Management Information System - : https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/edamis).
18.4. Data validation
National input data is validated by Eurostat for consistency and completeness. In case of inconsistent price data, the data providers are contacted to request a reconfirmation of the data.
18.5. Data compilation
Data is compiled and reported at national level. EU aggregates are not presented, as these do not contribute any significant information to the dataset.
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable.
no comments
This indicator is calculated on the basis of annual data collected by Eurostat.
Eurostat provides model questionnaires to all data providers that cover the following areas:
- Number of generating companies representing at least 95% of the national net electricity generation
- Number of generating companies producing at least 5% of the national net electricity generation
- Share of generation and installed capacity for generating companies with at least 5% of the national electricity generation/capacity
- Amount of new capacity connected during the year
- Amount of capacity decommissioned during the year
- Total number of electricity retailers to final customers
- Number of electricity retailers selling at least 5% of total national electricity consumed by final customers
- Market shares of electricity retailers selling at least 5% of total national electricity consumed by final customers
Data collection covers the full spectrum of the 28 Member States of the European Union.
29 January 2024
Not available
All electricity generation plants are included in the survey with the exception of auto-producers (production of electricity for own use). In case an electricity generation plant is co-owned by 2 or more enterprises, only the largest enterprise will be taken into account. For example if the electricity generation plant EUlectro is owned by 2 enterprises, Eurogen that has a share of 60% and the town Eurocity that has a share of 40%, the capacity and generation figures are allocated to Eurogen completely.
Member States must ensure that the national market is covered completely by the survey.
Data collection covers the full spectrum of the 28 EU Member States of the European Union. Bulgaria and the Netherlands only reported an aggregated share of electricity generating companies that have a share above 5% of total national generation, and therefore the figure for the largest generator is not available. Information for EFTA-country Norway, candidate countries Montenegro, the Former Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and potential candidate country Bosnia and Herzegovina is also presented. Turkey declared this information from 2006 onwards as confidential.
Annual statistics refer to the calendar year.
Not available.
The indicator is expressed as the percentage of total electricity generation at national level.
Data is compiled and reported at national level. EU aggregates are not presented, as these do not contribute any significant information to the dataset.
Data is reported by National Statistical Institutes, Ministries, Energy Agencies, Regulators or Electricity associations.
Data are disseminated on annual basis.
Data is delivered to Eurostat between 11 and 13 months after the reference period.
Eurostat verifies to the extent possible if the reported data respect the prescribed methodology. The underlying data collection methods are however the responsibility of the Member States.
High comparability over time. No break of series was reported.
