an acronym for the Italian Electricity Market Operator Gestore Mercato Elettrico that is wholly- owned by the Independent Transmission System Operator (GRTN) and, which was set-up in June 2000 to operate the Italian wholesale electricity market. GME is responsible for issuing the Electricity Market Rules and for submitting them to the Minister of Industry for approval, after having sought the opinion of the Electricity and Gas Regulator (AEEG). GME is responsible for managing the Italian Electricity Market to promote competition between producers and to ensure an adequate availability of power reserves; balancing demand and supply; defining the obligations of producers and consumers not opting for bilateral trading; enforcing merit-order economic dispatch, and managing the Italian Power Exchange.