“The liberalization of the energy market does not mean immediate alignment of local prices with European levels. (…) But we need to know where we are headed, because there is a great deal of energy investment to be made in Romania. Production capacities cumulating 6,000 MW will be built by 2016. On the energy segment, 2016 means tomorrow morning, because project actions need to be taken right now, and this means that pricing signals need to be the right ones,” Stab said.
He added that, in this context, the only tendency prices can take is growth.
“Unfortunately, the only tendency for prices is to grow. We are not happy with this situation, but we need to find mechanisms to protect vulnerable users, those who cannot afford the energy bill,” Stab added.
Iulius Dan Plavetti, president of energy regulator ANRE, recently said the end price for electricity would most likely grow by 2.5% starting January 1, 2012, since the government has agreed to support renewable energy production, through green certificates.