According to data from the price comparator on the ANRE website, analyzed by HotNews.ro, electricity and gas suppliers provided offers to residential consumers at levels below the ceilings set by the state. This happened for the first time since the beginning of the energy crisis.

In the electric power industry, companies have formulated their proposals regarding the consumption thresholds of the limitation-compensation scheme.

More precisely, customers with a consumption of less than 100 kWh have 19 offers equal to the marginal price (0.68 lei/kWh).

Offers are valid from the beginning of February. It is worth noting that their number is increasing every day; yesterday, for example, there were 17 offers with a maximum price.

Among the companies that offer the lowest price, we note Getica 95, Enterex, E.ON, Electrica Furnizare, MET Romania, OMV Petrom.

At the same time, it is noted that Hidroelectrica is no longer the cheapest company, having offers above the ceiling (0.77 lei/kWh).

For the next consumption threshold, i.e. from 100 to 255 kWh, Hidroelectrica is the only one with a price below the ceiling (the same 0.77 lei/kWh).

But there are eight other offers at the maximum price (0.8 lei/kWh): Enterex, ICCO Energ, MET Romania, Nova Power and Gas, OMV Petrom.

For high consumption, over 255 kWh, there are nine offers below the maximum price (1.3 lei/kWh).

And for gas, we find no less than 22 offers at a price lower than the ceiling, which was set at 0.31 lei per kWh.

Companies with the following tariffs: Enterex, Nova Power and Gas, OMV Petrom, Renovatio Trading, Next Energy Partners, Premier Energy, PPC Energie, Engie, MVM, E.ON Energie, Getica 95.

This raises the question of what is the point of the cap-compensation scheme, which the authorities want to keep until April 1, 2025, instead of starting to liberalize the market again and allow prices to regulate themselves.

The European Commission is analyzing the legality of the energy price capping and compensation scheme in Romania

According to a response sent by Brussels to a request from HotNews.ro late last week, the European Commission has drawn attention to the marginal compensation scheme for electricity and natural gas bills in Romania.

“The commission is analyzing the problem and is in contact with the Romanian authorities to better understand the scheme. As a general principle, the price interventions of the member states must comply with the rules of the EU energy market,” answered the representative of the Commission.

This is in conditions when prices across Europe are at the level before the energy crisis, and our country is the only one that still provides subsidies. In addition, governments can only set regulated prices below costs for firms until December 31, 2023. Now the authorities in Brussels are trying to understand why the government in Bucharest wants to keep the scheme until 2025.

The government is considering amending the legislation on price restrictions

Last week, the Ministry of Energy announced that it is analyzing ways to amend GEO 27/2022 (regarding price caps).

“We’re trying to lower the bills even more,” profile minister Sebastien Bourduilla said last Thursday when asked about energy and gas prices.

“It is possible to go below this ceiling, we are conducting a technical analysis and we will come up with possible adjustments to GEO 27/2022. (…) Romanians will pay less, the maximum ceilings remain unchanged. (.. .) We are looking at whether it is somehow possible to achieve an even greater drop in prices,” the minister said.

When asked why he wanted to change the legislation now, after repeatedly saying he would not change it, Bourdouya replied succinctly: “Stability is also a merit.”

Just days before, he said the restrictions would not be changed until April 1, 2025, so as not to disrupt the billing system for providers.

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