A legislative proposal currently being debated in parliament could give consumers the freedom to donate excess energy to other consumers. Suppliers say that this is possible only if we determine from the very beginning to whom we give energy, and not from day to day, but over a longer period, for example a year: “It is impossible to exchange between neighbors: you give a kilogram of tomatoes, I’ll give you 5 kilowatts when there’s more.”

“At the request of consumers, household consumers, natural persons in a situation where the amount of energy produced and transmitted to the network exceeds the amount of energy consumed by consumers, and the expressed desire of consumers to transfer the amount of energy free of charge to the consumers of the supplier, the suppliers of electric energy are obliged to transfer the amount of energy in accordance to the requirements of consumers and in accordance with the current legislation,” the legislative proposal states.

The explanatory note states that this provision was requested by the prosumers.

“Introduces the right of the consumer, in fact, to donate the electricity produced and transmitted to the network to other consumers of the supplier. The cases considered by the legislator in this regard are acts of donation to hospitals, schools, social service providers, etc., which are in the portfolio of the same supplier.

This offer has arisen due to the interest expressed by consumers in using this option. At the same time, in its wording, the provision gives a natural person-consumer, including the right to donate electricity produced and transmitted in the network, to other household consumers, such as family members, disadvantaged families, etc., the message says. explanatory note.

The same document also states that consumers can offset their gas bill if the electricity supplier is the same as the one they buy gas from.

The proposal was initiated by 13 deputies from PSD, PNL, USR and UDMR.

It has so far received the approval of the Competition Council and the Economic and Social Council, with representatives of the latter saying that discussions with all market participants are needed to determine whether the provisions can be applied.

Instead, the Legislative Council gave a negative conclusion, considering, among other things, that the rationale was not written in a language typical of normative acts.

Suppliers: We cannot donate electricity immediately

However, suppliers need additional clarification to be able to implement such ideas.

“Electricity is not a commodity that can be given from day to day. If we want to do this, we have to say clearly from the beginning to whom we give energy, and for a longer period, for 12 months, for example: “Barter between neighbors does not work: you give me a kilogram of tomatoes, I will give you 5 kilowatts when I will have extra,” said a representative of the sector for HotNews.ro.

Similarly, if you offer someone the option to offset their gas bill by generating electricity, you are effectively forcing that person to have one gas and electricity supplier.

This goes against the freedom to switch from one provider to another at any time, he added.