Romania's total energy production has been increased by prosumers by 1.1 GW in 2024, up to 2.4 GW, and suppliers benefitted from cheap energy without immediate payment and a disguised credit line of over EUR 100 million, according to the Association of Romania's Energy Prosumers and Communities (PACE).
"According to official data with the Association of Romania's Energy Prosumers and Communities (PACE), in 2024 alone, Romania's total energy production was increased by prosumers by 1.1 GW, reaching a total capacity of 2.4 GW (...) Benefitting from cheap energy without immediate payment, suppliers in Romania benefitted in 2024 from a disguised credit line of over EUR 100 million. They would pay to prosumers with the aid of Order 15/2022 issued by the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) starting in 2026, only if they issue invoices. Romania is the only country in Europe where this system of disguised crediting of energy suppliers operates. Those who invented it can be proud of it. In 2022, 2023 and 2024, Romanian prosumers credited energy suppliers in Romania with more than EUR 150 million interest-free. There is no European precedent for energy to be settled after two years," warns the trade organisation.
Specialists' forecasts show that solar energy will surpass all other energy sources, reaching 8.2 GW by 2030 and 33.3 GW by 2050, and that means that the entire national energy grid has to be overhauled from the ground up.
"The most interesting figure is the enormous amount of excess energy injected into the grid by all prosumers in Romania in 2024, which reached, according to data received from ANRE, 1.2 TWh of total energy. That is, more precisely, 1.2 billion kWh of energy. That energy was distributed exclusively in the low and medium voltage networks and was consumed and then billed by the energy suppliers on a monthly basis, to our neighbouring consumers. It was generated and consumed locally, in the operating perimeter of low and medium voltage transformers (...) The system in Romania was "improved" by ANRE in 2022, most likely at the initiative of energy suppliers, in the form of "keeping energy at the disposal of prosumers" for two years - from the date of billing. Many suppliers have not invoiced on time with intent without being severely punished by ANRE and it has come to the point, today, that certain prosumers, customers of Electrica Furnizare, do not know when they receive the money for energy."
Given the circumstances, PACE requests the urgent passage of a bill that clearly defines the role of the prosumer and the monthly payment from the energy supplier.
"In Parliament, bill PL-x 605 of 2023 is dragging, which clearly defines the prosumer, the monthly payment for those with powers between 1 and 200 kW installed power, the right to compensate energy on several consumption sites and a series of other incentives. For two years, the lawmakers in power have delayed the passage of this law by amending it with "poisoned" proposals introduced especially in the Committee on Industries and Services, where all kinds of "miracles" happen, especially against prosumers. The Association of and Energy Prosumers and Communities strongly requests: the urgent passage of PL-x 605/2023 and, implicitly, the guaranteed monthly payment for prosumers, the uniformity of the Value-Added Tax (VAT) at 9% for the entire photovoltaic system (including batteries), fair treatment for prosumers, as an essential part of the energy transition in Romania."
PACE adds that in Western European countries the compensation mechanisms for the surplus electricity injected into the grid by prosumers vary significantly, and the compensation for the energy injected into the grid by prosumers is made monthly or according to the usual billing cycle of the energy supplier.
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