EECS Unit

The EECS Unit is responsible for the ongoing development and implementation of the regulations on the generic (non-energy-specific) part of the European Energy Certificate System (the EECS Rules), and for the Articles of Association of the AIB. It is also responsible for promoting and protecting the interests of the AIB and its members in the ongoing development of CEN/CENELEC standard EN16325.

Chair: Remco van Stein Callenfels (VertiCer, Netherlands)

Areas of Responsibility

The development, maintenance and enforcement of operational rules for a harmonised, efficient and reliable energy certification system compatible with national schemes and legislation and European legislation.
The provision of legal support for the activities and strategy of the AIB, to ensure the effectiveness of the relationship between AIB and its members and improve cooperation with third parties.
The development and application of measures to guarantee the efficiency, robustness, correctness and security of certificate management practices.
The definition of an appropriate relationship between EECS Guarantees of Origin and quality labels (otherwise known as Independent Criteria Schemes (ICSs))

Following the new Articles of Association approved on 4 February 2020, in the course of 2020 the EECS Rules will be adapted so that the EECS Unit is also competent to:

Amend the generic parts of the EECS Rules
Approve and amend Domain Protocol Templates
Amend Subsidiary Document

Portrait of Remco van Stein Callenfels from VertiCer (NL), Chair of the EECS Unit — » Remco van Stein Callenfels from VertiCer (NL), Chair of the EECS Unit

Areas of Responsibility

The development, maintenance and enforcement of operational rules for a harmonised, efficient and reliable energy certification system compatible with national schemes and legislation and European legislation.
The provision of legal support for the activities and strategy of the AIB, to ensure the effectiveness of the relationship between AIB and its members and improve cooperation with third parties.
The development and application of measures to guarantee the efficiency, robustness, correctness and security of certificate management practices.
The definition of an appropriate relationship between EECS Guarantees of Origin and quality labels (otherwise known as Independent Criteria Schemes (ICSs).

Tasks

To develop, maintain, and resolve errors in the EECS Rules, being the rules for the operation of a shared energy certification system of energy certificates at a centralised level, cost-effectively and robustly.
To assist other Working Groups and the Board in terms of compliance with the EECS Rules, internal regulations, legalities, and governance.
To protect intellectual property rights relating to the products and activities of the AIB.
To develop and improve legal instruments supporting the AIB, including the Articles of Association, Hub Participant Agreement and Internal Regulations, and to provide advisory services and assist in resolving disputes in relation to these documents.
To ensure a satisfactory level of review of applications for membership, including reviews of Domain Protocols and audits of members’ activities, and to develop and review guidelines and procedures for the conduct and administration of these audits and reviews.
To ensure that EECS Certificates are a fair, efficient, and reliable tool for tracking energy.
Quality Assurance
To review cases of non-compliance with AIB’s legal framework and review and propose enhancements to this framework to protect stakeholders and ensure a robust and reliable system.
To conduct effective reviews of applications for membership and Domain Protocols and member audits, and propose ways of resolving issues discovered during such reviews and audits.
To identify potential threats to the intellectual property of the AIB.
To monitor the implementation and evolution of international and national legislation, regulation and practice in the field of energy certification and energy source disclosure with a view to acting as a centre of knowledge for members, and identifying and harmonising national practice.
To constantly be on the lookout for opportunities to improve AIB's legal framework and internal procedures, and to use such opportunities to improve quality and reduce cost.

Please note: National legislation might prevent the Workgroup from harmonising national practices.

The Internal Rules of Operation are published under Subsidiary Documents on the AIB public pages.