The Energy Ministry wants to put pressure on suppliers to lower electricity and natural gas prices even further by lowering the limits at which they buy from producers, related minister Sebastian Bourduya said on Tuesday. These reductions could be felt from May to June, he added.
“This week, we are preparing to optimize the capping-compensation scheme, thanks to which the prices in the bills may fall further. In no case will they increase, because the ceilings (for end consumers – no) do not change. But we want to put even more pressure on suppliers to lower prices for both electricity and natural gas by lowering the cap at which producers sell energy,” Burduja said at the Energy Forum hosted by DC News.
He showed that at the European level we have the fifth cheapest electricity and the fourth cheapest gas, according to Eurostat data for the third quarter of last year.
For electricity, the ceiling for household consumers was set at 0.68 lei per kWh for consumption below 100 kWh, 0.8 lei per kWh for 100-255 kWh and 1.3 lei per kWh -h for consumption over 300 kWh.
For gas, the ceiling is 0.31 lei per kWh.
In the stock market, prices have returned to pre-energy times, but not in bills
In January 2021, household electricity consumers could conclude contracts for 0.25 lei per kWh, i.e. at a price three times lower than the current lowest limit.
According to the ministry’s plans, the price at which producers sell electricity to end-user suppliers will drop from 450 lei per MWh to 400 lei, and a centralized procurement mechanism will be optional.
The price at which gas producers sell will decrease from 150 lei per MWh to 120 lei.
“We expect people’s bills to go down. Perhaps the drop will not be large. We see, depending on the development of the market, after April 1 these changes will come into effect. Suppliers will buy electricity and gas more cheaply after these restrictions are lifted. This means that sometime in May-June, Romania will be able to feel this movement,” Burduja said also on Tuesday on the air of B1.
Another change that the Ministry of Energy wants is to extend the scheme by one year, until March 31, 2026.
Read also: Conflicting statements on energy prices / The market has settled, says Chiritsou, and the energy minister says there is a risk that bills will go crazy
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Source: Hot News
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