In the draft budget for 2024, there are no sources of funding for energy consumer support schemes. If the state maintains bill restrictions without having a budget for it, there is a risk of a collapse in the national energy system, warn representatives of the Federation of Associations of Energy Companies (ACUE).

In the draft budget for next year, the sum of 0 lei appears in the Transitional Fund – where the funds allocated to pay bills should be allocated.

ACUE asks the Romanian government to confirm whether the allocation of 0 lei represents a decision to withdraw from support schemes for energy consumers.

“In the case of maintaining the support schemes, we demand a guarantee of funding sources,” say representatives of the Federation.

There is a risk of bankruptcy of some suppliers

“The state budget for 2024 should include sources of funding for energy price capping schemes in 2024 and outstanding payments from 2023. The Ministry of Public Finance has decided to ignore the existing problem and the real risk of an extremely dangerous situation for all Romanian citizens. – the impossibility of providing energy,” emphasizes Daniela Dareban, executive director of ACUE, the Federation that unites some of the largest energy suppliers in Romania.

At the moment, 1.9 billion lei are pending payment at the Ministry of Energy and another 1.8 billion lei at ANPIS, for which there are no funding sources.

At the same time, the sources of financing related to the price reduction that will be applied in 2024 must be provided in the budget if the Romanian government decides to keep the support schemes.

“The ignorance demonstrated by the draft budget submitted for public discussion will be paid for by energy consumers in Romania. The risk of insolvency of energy suppliers is fundamental and will affect the entire energy sector.

On behalf of the customers in our members’ portfolio, we warn with all responsibility that there is an immediate threat of the impossibility of providing the necessary energy, the collapse of the national energy system is as real as possible,” Daniela Daraban also noted. .

The lack of budgets to compensate for the curtailment schemes seriously destabilizes the ability of suppliers to ensure the purchase of energy and, implicitly, the continuity of a safe supply of electricity and gas to households and companies in the middle of winter, in violation of national and European legislation, the companies also said.

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