The booked capacities were generally not used while not being available to other market entities (in three-quarters of the cases by distributors affiliated with the network operator) thus excluding small market entities from the market and permitting the network affiliates to maintain a dominant position in their traditional supply areas (Bundesnetzagentur, 2010). Now capacities are auctioned, thus removing barriers to grid access and simplifying the booking process. However, as on the electricity market, a majority of consumers are not benefiting from savings they could get from provider switching (Bundesnetzagentur, 2010). In addition, eco-innovation could also generate additional growth, thereby offsetting some of the adverse effects of emission reduction policies (OECD, 201 If).