The electricity prices for household consumers could increase starting April 1 because of the high prices recorded on the bourse in January if the National Authority for Energy Regulation (ANRE) doesn’t take urgent measures to amend regulation, Frank Hajdinjak, general director of the energy group E.ON Romania, told Agerpres.

He added that the price of gas delivered to the population could also increase by over 10% starting April 1 when the price of domestically produced gas is completely liberalized. ANRE should step in to find a mechanism for gradual growth, Hajdinjak said.

The GM explained that the electricity spot prices on the bourse significantly increased in January reaching values of over RON 650 (EUR 144) per MWh, double compared to the first days of the year.

“If ANRE doesn’t react, there is an even higher risk to record a price increase for regulated consumers. It’s not our goal to reach a price increase, our goal is to have correct regulations and consumers to have electricity at the right price,” Hajdinjak said.

He explained that prices “have gone crazy on the bourse” due to cascading events. Energy prices in the region have increased due to the low temperatures, and some large energy traders entered insolvency as they lacked money because banks have had stricter lending policies for this type of companies.

The market hasn’t recorded an energy deficit at any point, the E.ON Romania GM added.

editor@romania-insider.com