Romania’s energy watchdog ANRE vice-president Emil Calota on Thursday said the average monthly electricity bill of 40 lei (EUR8.9) currently, for consumption of 100 KWh, will cost RON4 more starting January 1.
ANRE head Nicolae Havrilet said Thursday the regulated electricity price Nuclearelectrica was allowed to charge starting 2013 rose from RON121 to RON142 per MWh, hydropower producer Hidroelectrica was allowed a price increase from RON71 to RON125 per MWh and Complexul Energetic Oltenia was allowed a price hike from RON172 to RON190.
Earlier Thursday, ANRE said Romanian household and non-household consumers will pay 6% more for electricity starting January 1, 2013 due to increased costs for power producers. Also, the final average electricity prices paid by consumers will also include the increase in state aid granted to renewable energy producers based on the system of green certificates. Green certificates represent aid granted by the state to companies investing in the production of energy from renewable sources: wind, sun, water and biomass.
Beside price hikes triggered by the increase in energy production costs and the impact of green certificates on electricity bills, electricity tariffs will also be impacted in 2013 by the gradual liberalization of the local electricity market required by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Commission (EC).
Under its precautionary stand-by agreement with the IMF, the EC and the World Bank, Romania has to deregulate its natural gas and electricity market.
Household gas and electricity prices in Romania are currently regulated by ANRE, for social protection. (EUR1=RON4.4762)