Hidroelectrica customers, scared by the company with the price sent by an ad. What is the truth

This week, Hidroelectrica sent to the nearly one million customers a message that repeated three times that the fare is increased. Moreover, from the figures communicated by the company initially, it could be understood that the tariff increases by 70%. Only in a third message Hidroelectrica clearly explained what changes are to be made.

What Hidroelectrica initially transmitted:

• “We inform you that, starting with September 1, 2025, the new value of the regulated tariff for the system services, applied by the National Electric Energy Transport Company” Transelectrica “SA has entered into force.
• According to the Order of the Minister of Energy no. 60 of 26.08.2025, published in the Official Gazette, the tariff was increased from 7.04 lei/MWh to 12.79 lei/MWh. This tariff increase, imposed by regulation, will lead to an increase in the final price that you will pay for the electricity consumed. The new tariff will be reflected on the invoices issued starting with October 2025, applicable for energy consumption starting with September 2025, including ”.

This message is a huge company communication joke in the direct relationship with its customers.

The more the invoice actually increases

First of all, Hidroelectrica does not explain what the tariff is. The system of system services, collected by Transelectrica, is a small part of the invoice.

Then it is not specified what will be the concrete impact in invoices. What do people read? That there follows an increase from 7 to 12 lei – huge. Especially since it comes after doubling the invoice in July, when it was the liberalization of the energy market.

But in reality, Hidroelectrica announced the price per mwh, ie megawatt-time, not KWH.

So the difference of 5.75 lei per MWH actually means 0.00575 lei per kWh, kilowatt-hour, which translates into an increase of about 60 money per month to an average consumption of 100 kWh.

The second error

In addition, the system of system services was not increased “according to the Order of the Minister of Energy no. 60 of 26.08.2025”, as Hidroelectrica announced, but according to the ANRE.

We remind that the Minister of Energy (Economy or Industries, as it was called in the past) does not establish the prices from the early 2000s, this being the exclusive attribute of the regulatory authority. And this should be part of the minimum knowledge package of someone working in the energy sector.

Hidroelectrica clarifies the message only in a third message

After this message to customers, several publications have titled “Hidroelectrica increase the invoices”, and Hidroelectrica issued a press release that says clarifications are needed due to journalists.

• “In the context of articles recently published in the press, with titles of the type” Hidroelectrica expensive energy “, we want to bring a series of clarifications for the correct information of the public and our customers.
• Hidroelectrica did not change the price of the active energy provided in its commercial offers. The increase reported in the final price invoiced to the consumers is determined exclusively by the increase of the regulated tariffs for the system services ”.

After this statement, the company issued a third email in which it finally explains to people what all this change means:

“According to ANRE Order no. 60 of 26.08.2025, published in the Official Gazette, the tariff was increased from 0.00704 lei/kWh to 0.01279 lei/kWh. Following the modification of the system tariff, the impact on the final price is a minor one, below 1 % (approximately 0.6 %) of the total value of the electricity invoice. Adjustment translates into a growth of about 70 money on the final invoice ”.

Hidroelectrica currently has 900,000 domestic consumers (consumption places), which, statistically, means around 2 million Romanians.

This increase applies to all consumers not just Hidroelectrica customers

After doubling the invoices from July, 70 extra money per month, although it remains an increase, it is not one that affects the company's customers.

However, Hidroelectrica says correctly that not only its customers will feel this increase, but everyone, and the suppliers are obliged by law to announce their consumers of any change in invoices.

Therefore, all consumers will be in the next period notified by their supplier of this change.

Let's hope the rest of the suppliers will inform people with more responsibility, not as Hidroelectrica did.

If you do not receive this notification from your supplier until the invoice for September is issued, you can advertise this to ANRE.