RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Energy prices trigger more discontent

The Legislature in Bucharest is to amend shortly an emergency ordinance on capping energy prices and subsidies

Energy prices trigger more discontent
Energy prices trigger more discontent

, 22.09.2022, 02:00

After they have been
advised to save energy in order to pay lower bills, many Romanians have recently
learnt that something doesn’t actually add up. And that’s because the capping
decided by the government through its latest Emergency Ordinance is not based
on the last month’s consumption but on the average monthly consumption they had
last year.




Things are very
clear on paper: for 100 kilowatts one must pay 0.68 RON. Between 101 and 255
kilowatts, the price is 0.80 RON and consumptions over 255 kilowatts will be charged
heavily under the contracts consumers have signed with energy providers. So, in
order to see if they can benefit the latest measures on capped electricity prices,
the Romanians must check the bills they paid last year and assess their average
consumption on the year that passed.




But because no one
publicly explained how calculations are made, some people have had the
unpleasant surprise of receiving huge electricity bills without understanding
why. According to data published by the National Authority for Energy
Regulations (ANRE), Romania has so far had 4.9 million households in the 100
kilowatts bracket. A little over 3.5 million households are in the second
category while between 100 and 200 thousand households do not benefit any
capping regulations.




Recently submitted
to Parliament, the new capping scheme stipulated by the Emergency Ordinance is
expected to get some new amendments.




Both the ruling and
opposition parties have come up with a series of amendments to the law. For
instance, the co-ruling PSD and opposition USR have been pleading for changing
the way in which the consumption is charged, so that it may not be based on the
last year’s average consumption, but strictly on the consumption they
registered this year. However, ANRE says this solution is difficult to implement
technically and the agency endorses the older method based on the past
consumption.




The co-ruling PNL comes
up with a method based on the average consumption of the last three years. Amid
public discontent triggered by the huge energy bills, Energy Minister Virgil
Popescu has this week called on ANRE to do their job and closely monitor the
energy market while the Consumer Protection Office has been asked to sanction
the providers failing to comply with the regulations. ANRE has already kicked
off a series of unexpected controls at six energy distributors and in turn, the
National Authority for Consumer Protection has started controls at electricity
providers across the country in order to see how electricity bills are being
calculated.


(bill)

Photo: pixabay.com
Today in the News Thursday, 24 April 2025

A new law on the magistrates’ pensions

There are several occupational categories in Romania whose employees are usually retiring under the age of 50 and whose pensions aren’t exclusively...

A new law on the magistrates’ pensions
Foto: Mediamodifier / pixabay.com
Today in the News Thursday, 24 April 2025

Downward forecast revision from the World Bank

According to its latest report, the World Bank expects growth in developing economies in Europe and Central Asia to slow down to 2.5% in 2025-2026...

Downward forecast revision from the World Bank
Photo: Septimiu / pixabay.com
Today in the News Wednesday, 23 April 2025

From budget deficit to governmental debt

  The Romanian finance ministry reiterates Romania’s commitment to meet the 7% of GDP deficit target at the end of the year, and promises...

From budget deficit to governmental debt
Ambasadorul Germaniei la București, Peer Gebauer, alături de ministrul de Externe, Emil Hurezeanu / Foto: MAE.ro
Today in the News Wednesday, 23 April 2025

Romanian – German Friendship Day

A year ago, former Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, himself an ethnic German from Transylvania, promulgated the Law establishing April 21 as...

Romanian – German Friendship Day
Today in the News Tuesday, 22 April 2025

Romania reacts to the Pope’s Death

Pope Francis passed away on Monday, the second day of Easter, after 12 years of pontificate, and the emotion caused by his disappearance crossed the...

Romania reacts to the Pope’s Death
Today in the News Thursday, 17 April 2025

Christians before Easter

The Orthodox Christians in Romania are preparing to celebrate Easter – the feast of light and joy, considered the greatest celebration of...

Christians before Easter
Today in the News Wednesday, 16 April 2025

Strategic partnership reaffirmed

  With a new administration led by the Republican Donald Trump that excels in unexpected moves, the United States has in Congress an institution...

Strategic partnership reaffirmed
Today in the News Wednesday, 16 April 2025

NATO continues to support Ukraine

NATO’s Secretary General visited Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.   NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Tuesday made a surprise visit...

NATO continues to support Ukraine

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company