One of the measures targeted by the Government to reduce the price of energy is the unlocking of technical approvals for connection to the grid (ATR), Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said on Thursday, at the end of the Executive session. He claims that by the end of the month, a package of measures will be prepared aimed at lowering electricity prices, with the first effects of this year.
Currently, the final price of electricity for consumers is generally between 1.06 and 1.30 lei/kWh.
“We have a plan that I discussed with the Minister of Energy, which we will announce by the end of March, which aims to lower prices in the electricity area. This decrease cannot be done overnight, but there are some important directions that we have discussed and that we will work on, so that we can have effects starting this year,” said the Prime Minister.
“We need to free these networks”
One of the key measures is aimed at unlocking network capabilities. According to Bolojan, the authorities are considering the elimination of those technical approvals for connection (ATR) which “covered practically the entire capacity of connection to electricity networks”.
“We need to free up these networks to open up the market for those who really want to invest and to reduce costs,” the prime minister explained.
Serious companies that want to invest in electricity production are blocked by “speculative, smart-guy-type investments,” Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan accused in an interview for Europa FM in February.
According to the Prime Minister, these “smart guys” obtain documentation and technical approvals for connection for investments that they do not intend to make, but only to sell. One of the most famous deals done this way was that of Mihai Cristian Ciolacu, Marcel Ciolacu's nephew, according to HotNews revelations from 2024.
The prime minister also spoke about increasing energy storage capacities, considered essential for balancing the system and reducing very high prices during peak hours. In this sense, the Ministry of Energy is preparing co-financing programs through the Modernization Fund.
“Increasing storage capacities will allow us to reduce a price that is very high during peak hours, so that overall we have cheaper energy,” said Bolojan.
“We want to shorten the implementation period of investments that mean strengthening and expanding networks, investments in production and interconnections. Only through an increase in production capacities can we, in real terms, reduce the price”, the prime minister also stated.
Bolojan says the plan also targets the management of state-owned companies
The prime minister claims that the government plan also aims to improve the administration of state-owned energy companies. Bolojan recalled that Nuclearelectrica and Hidroelectrica together provide more than 40% of the national electricity production.
“Every improvement at a major company means better prices and greater efficiency,” Bolojan said.
