These tools are used to determine how high the permitted, regulated revenue of a network operator can be, in other words, how much it is allowed to earn.
In principle, a distinction is made between an application before incentive regulation (fee application) and an application within incentive application (cost application).
If the network operator is not yet in incentive regulation, but in cost regulation instead, the network operator submits a fee application to the regulatory authority for the approval of fees for a specific approval period. Generally speaking, this only applies to newly established network operators. A network operator that is already in incentive regulation submits a cost application in the year after the base year in each case. On the basis of this application, the Federal Network Agency then approves the upper revenue limit for the next regulatory period.

Capacities that are booked on a fixed basis and cannot be interrupted. The transport customer can therefore fulfill its delivery obligation at all times. See also interruptible capacity, dynamic capacity and freely allocable capacity.

Vereinigung der Fernleitungsnetzbetreiber Gas e. V. (FNB Gas) is a German association which represents the interests of the German transmission system operators for natural gas. It was established in 2012 and is based in Berlin. The association focuses on coordination when producing the Network Development Plan Gas.

Freely allocable capacity is a capacity where a customer can combine a capacity right at an entry point with a capacity right at any exit point in the market area for a specific transport service - or can combine a capacity right at an exit point with a capacity right at any entry point in the market area for a specific transport service. See also interruptible capacity , dynamic capacity and fixed capacity.

At network points to downstream network operators and final consumers, a forecast (quantity forecast) of exit quantities is carried out in order to determine the future schedule (at least for the current and following gas day). Various forecasting procedures such as temperature forecasts or historical values are used.

Fuel gas is needed to operate compressors and heating systems as well as for maintenance work on the network. Fuel gas is procured via public tendering processes.