Breaking news! Approval of the National Unified Electricity Trading Mechanism Plan

Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration approved the "Request for Approval of the Normalized Trading Mechanism Plan for Cross-Operating Areas of State Grid and China Southern Power Grid" submitted by State Grid and China Southern Power Grid, giving principle consent!

It was also proposed that by the end of the year, market rules, trading varieties, and trading sequences will be further unified to achieve normalized cross-grid trading market opening. The goal is to quickly realize "one registration, nationwide sharing" for electricity market members.

This also marks the arrival of the era of a national unified electricity market! The original document is as follows:

National Development and Reform Commission and National Energy Administration on the Cross-Grid Operating Area

Normalized Electricity Trading Mechanism Plan Reply Letter

Document No. 915 [2025] of the Development and Reform System Reform

To State Grid Corporation of China and China Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd.:

  We have received your company's "Request for Approval of the Normalized Trading Mechanism Plan for Cross-Operating Areas of State Grid and China Southern Power Grid." The approval is as follows.

1. Principle consent is given to the "Normalized Electricity Trading Mechanism Plan for Cross-Grid Operating Areas"; Please organize and implement it conscientiously.

  2. Achieving normalized trading across grid operating areas is a landmark measure to implement the spirit of the 20th CPC Central Committee's Third Plenary Session and to build a national unified electricity market. It is of great significance for breaking market segmentation and regional blockades, and optimizing electricity resource allocation nationwide. State Grid Corporation and China Southern Power Grid should deepen cooperation, fully leverage the role of the normalized cross-grid trading mechanism, promote electricity market interconnection, improve inter-grid channel utilization efficiency, strengthen coordination among various market levels, and ensure the efficient operation of the national unified electricity market system.

  3. During the peak summer period of 2025, State Grid Corporation and China Southern Power Grid should rely on the normalized cross-grid trading mechanism to optimize electricity resource allocation and better support power supply security. By the end of the year, further unify market rules, trading varieties, and trading sequences to achieve normalized cross-grid trading market opening.

  4. State Grid Corporation and China Southern Power Grid should fulfill their main responsibilities, continuously improve cross-grid trading rules according to relevant policy requirements, strengthen technical platform interconnection and information sharing and mutual recognition, and quickly realize "one registration, nationwide sharing" for electricity market members. Improve the emergency dispatch pricing mechanism and settlement management across provinces and regions, promptly track market operation status, strengthen information disclosure and reporting, prepare emergency plans, effectively prevent market risks, and ensure the safe and stable operation of the power system. Major issues should be reported promptly to the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration.

  5. The National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration will continue to strengthen guidance on normalized cross-grid trading, improve supporting policies, coordinate problem-solving in a timely manner, and further improve the national unified electricity market system.

  Attachment: Normalized Electricity Trading Mechanism Plan for Cross-Grid Operating Areas

National Development and Reform Commission

National Energy Administration

2025 July 1, 2025

Source: National Development and Reform Commission