In 2020, even Ukraine had a higher electricity consumption at the end of 2020, of almost 2.8 MWh per capita, as per data released by the International Energy Agency. Germans had a consumption of 6.4 MWh per capita and Norway saw a consumption of 23.3 MWh per cap in 2020. Island is the undisputed leader in terms of electricity consumption, with 51 MWh per capita.
Given this situation, the proposition of the European Commission (EC) to further reduce electricity consumption becomes almost impossible.
“(…) In Romania’s rural areas, one has only a refrigerator plugged in and that’s it. We are more rural than others, even if it’s hard to believe when looking at the situation in the big cities. For instance, in the 1990s, 95% of Romania’s electricity consumption was covered by the industry and the rest by households,” Otilia Nutu, an analyst on energy and infrastructure policies told the Expert Forum.
Data for 2021 show that household consumption in Romania accounts for almost 25% of the total energy consumption, with the European average standing at 27% in 2020.
The EC urges each and every Member State to reduce electricity consumption by 5% at peak hours. According to the Commission, each Member State must analyse those three-four peak hours, combined with production estimates, and try to cut consumption.