​ANRE claims that the “sun tax” is a non-existent problem, although it is provided for by the emergency decree. The Minister of Ecology has not heard that this was discussed in the Government, but he cannot say what will happen from 2026. On the other hand, prosumers say that we have found ourselves in an absurd situation, when the Government issues unnecessary regulations, and ANRE forces them to install two rows of counters, without any sense. In addition, the government’s promises do not warm them at all and they demand to completely cancel the norm that gives NARE the right to introduce this tax.

We remind you that GEO 163/2022 provides for the possibility for ANRE to charge consumers, starting from December 1, 2026, if their capacity exceeds 8% of the total energy production capacity in Romania, and public opinion was intrigued by the fact that the authorities want to charge people using the sun to produce energy for one’s own consumption, hence the name “sun tax”.

Environment Minister Mircea Fecet said last night that he had not heard of such a tax being discussed in government, but he admits he cannot know what will happen in 2026.

“Regarding this tax, neither in the Ministry of Natural Resources nor in the Government have I heard any discussion regarding the collection of fees from prosumers. I think that this phenomenon, thanks to which every Romanian produces his own green energy, should be encouraged. (…) I don’t know what will happen in 2026, because I don’t know what kind of government there will be then, and I don’t know what kind of government program the government will have then. It’s hard to predict,” Feshe told Digi24.

He admits that he doesn’t quite know what the 8 percent barrier might be.

“What about that 8% threshold?” asked the moderator. Mircea Fechet: “It is not very clear to me. I know there are certain lines beyond which states can continue to see what they do to consumers. Sometimes they are encouraged, sometimes they are not encouraged…”.

ANRE: “Sun tax” is a non-existent problem

At the same time, the NCRECP sent out a statement “Tax on the sun is a non-existent problem.”

“Taking into account the fact that there is no obligation to introduce a tax or a tariff, I can tell you very clearly that the National Energy Regulatory Authority does not plan to develop a regulatory framework through which the so-called “sun” will be introduced. tax”.

I categorically reject the rumors that have appeared in the public space about ANRE’s “intentions” or “plans” in this regard, and I invite professional partners to a constructive dialogue from which prosumers can benefit”, says George Niculescu, President of ANRE.

NARE also refers to additional meters that were installed at some consumers and which made them say that the authorities are preparing to introduce this tax.

ANRE clarifies that the installation of these smart meters is necessary to monitor the production of renewable energy and has nothing to do with the provisions of GEO 163/2022, regarding the possibility of introducing a “sun tax”.

“The installation of these meters has been partially suspended to ensure fast connection of consumers to the grid in the context of the 2021-2022 meter crisis caused by the general crisis in the production of digital electronic components.

It should be noted that the cost of this meter is borne by the distribution operators, the only additional costs borne by the consumer is the distribution box in which this meter will be installed,” ANRE also notes.

Prosumers: “We are in an absurd situation. The government issues useless regulations, and NARE installs the same unnecessary meters”

In response, prosumers say that there is no such additional self-consumption meter anywhere in Europe.

In addition, distributors will distribute these unnecessary costs to all energy consumers in Romania.

“The cost of these unnecessary meters is borne by the distribution operators who collect all the money from the accounts of all Romanians. Romania has failed to install smart meters for all consumers, but it is spending significant budgets to install two meters for ordinary consumers. Without these smart meters in every house in Romania, we will not be able to have a smart network.

Because of this order, NARE not only creates additional costs for consumers, but also spends money that should be invested in infrastructure.

We are in an absurd situation. The government gave GEO permission to ANRE to introduce a tax on solar energy, but ANRE says it has no intention of introducing such a tax, while forcing all consumers in Romania to prepare an electrical installation for a second meter to measure their own consumption.

From this situation, we can conclude that the Romanian government issues unnecessary GEOs, and ANRE installs equally unnecessary meters,” the Association of Energy Consumers and Communities notes.

Prosumers also say that they do not warm to the promises of NARE and the Government, but want the complete cancellation of the clause that gives NARE the right to introduce this tax.

In addition, representatives of the association say that although they sent a request for an audience to NARE a month ago, they have not yet been called to a discussion to clarify all these aspects related to the sun tax, additional meters and other prosumer issues.

Read also:“Sunshine tax” is an initiative that the Government suggests, but still says will not apply / What we know so far

Photo source: Dreamstime