The latest report by the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) on the situation with consumers shows that the rate of connection to distribution networks is increasing month by month. Practically, July saw an average of 236 daily connections, after being below 150 six months ago. In addition, the threshold of 1,000 MW of capacity installed in photovoltaic panels on homes was exceeded in July, missed ANRE reports.

Installed power as one and a half reactor

More precisely, the number of prosumers increased to 84,733, and the installed capacity reached 1,063 MW. If you have to force a comparison, then this is the installed capacity of one and a half reactors from Chernavoda.

NARE representatives believe that at the current rate, the installed capacity of 2,000 MW will be reached within a year. Almost all estimates made today have been exceeded. Two years ago, ANRE estimated that a capacity of 2,000 MW would not be reached until 2030.

In many cases, PV panels are installed in excess of consumption requirements, so ANRE is considering measures to limit the capacity that a professional can install. George Niculescu, president of ANRE, has repeatedly stated that it is necessary to introduce a threshold for the power that can be installed in houses.

Distributors say that the network is not coping

What happens to this excess energy? It goes to the network, and the owner of the photovoltaic installation receives money for each kWh. without paying taxes. In essence, owning photovoltaic panels has become a business. But without restrictions in place, that business could turn against consumers as the power grid is so old and worn that it can’t cope, leading to blackouts.

Distributors believe that the authorities should consider measures to slow down the rate of growth of installed capacity. Limits and certain standards should be analyzed when installing panels, taking into account the consumption history of the beneficiaries, say representatives of the Federation of Associations of Energy Companies (ACUE). They said the average requirement for a home where the beneficiary also owns an electric car or two would be 6kW, but much more has been set.

In addition, a legislative proposal currently being debated in parliament could give consumers the freedom to donate excess energy to other consumers.

“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.

What options are available to consumers

right ANRE dataconsumers can sell electricity produced and transmitted in electric networks to electricity suppliers with whom they have entered into electricity supply contracts.

– Quantitative compensation between electricity produced from renewable sources and delivered to the electricity network by physical and legal consumers who own power plants from renewable sources with an installed capacity of no more than 200 kW per point of consumption

– Financial regulation between electricity produced from renewable sources and delivered to the electricity network by physical and legal consumers who own power plants from renewable sources with an installed capacity of more than 200 kW, but not more than 400 kW per point of consumption

– Natural consumers who generate electricity in power plants with an installed capacity of no more than 400 kW are exempted/exempted from paying all tax obligations related to the amount of electricity produced for their own consumption, as well as the surplus sold to suppliers.

Check out the prosumer guide for all the benefits of prosumers