Working meeting at the Victoria Palace of the Interministerial Committee on Protecting Vulnerable Consumers and Combating Energy Poverty
The regulatory act regarding the price capping and compensation scheme for the period after April 1, 2025, will be made public by the end of the week.
Monday, February 17, 2025, the working meeting of the Interministerial Committee on Protecting Vulnerable Consumers and Combating Energy Poverty took place, with representatives from ministries, state institutions, as well as energy producers and suppliers in attendance. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Marian Neacșu, with the participation of Minister of Energy Sebastian Burduja, ANRE President George Niculescu, representatives from the Ministry of Labor, ANAF, the Competition Council, and major actors in Romania’s energy sector.
During the meeting, the current situation of vulnerable consumers in Romania was analyzed, along with the scenarios for action after the expiration of the current support mechanism regarding energy price capping and compensation. The discussions were constructive and aimed at finding efficient solutions to protect citizens and the business environment from energy market fluctuations.
The Ministry of Energy reaffirms its commitment to ensuring access to energy at affordable prices for every household and business, while maintaining a balance between the stability of Romanian household budgets and the economic health of the energy sector.
“We want to restore the normal functioning of the energy market in a rational and gradual manner to avoid sudden increases in energy bills. If we do not take into account the extension of the support mechanism, we would be assuming the risk of a possible accelerated rise in energy costs for the population and the economic environment starting April 1, 2025. Moreover, the government has allocated an initial budget of 3 billion lei for the beginning of this year to support the capping-compensation scheme, which will allow significant payments to suppliers in the near future.
The meeting also presented several proposals for transitional measures, focusing on increasing transparency in energy markets and improving liquidity. In the coming days, these will be incorporated into the proposed regulatory act, which will be made public by the end of this week. The current capping-compensation scheme has ensured that Romanians enjoy the fourth cheapest gas and the fifth cheapest electricity in the EU, according to Eurostat data. Our top priority remains the protection of Romanian citizens, with affordable energy being an essential component of a decent living standard and national economic competitiveness,” stated Sebastian Burduja, Minister of Energy.
The recent increase in energy prices on the markets — up to 60 euros/MWh for gas (+65%) and 110-115 euros/MWh for electricity (+25%) — is influenced by geopolitical tensions in the region, decisions made by the Russian Federation, the interconnections between Eastern and Western EU countries, and the level of gas storage within the EU. In this context, prudent and effective measures are required to prevent worsening energy poverty.
In the short and medium term, the Ministry of Energy proposes the implementation of new support mechanisms for vulnerable consumers, such as energy cards. This mechanism, detailed in the governance program, will ensure targeted and fair support.
In the coming days, representatives from the Ministry of Energy, ANRE, energy producers, and suppliers will meet in technical sessions to finalize the proposed regulatory act regarding the new support mechanism. The first version will be made public by the end of this week.
Photo source: Facebook / Sebastian Burduja
18.02.2025 / Editor, Andreea Dragan
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