Following the full re-liberalization of Romania’s energy market, consumers have swiftly moved to take advantage of competitive offers. In June alone, more than 108,000 households switched electricity providers, bringing the total number of changes since the return of market competition to over 234,000.
A significant portion of these customers have turned to Hidroelectrica, the country’s largest electricity producer, known for offering the most competitive tariffs for residential users. The company’s customer service teams report managing between 10,000 and 11,000 new requests daily.
In response to increased consumer mobility and market competition, most major suppliers have lowered their rates in recent months. However, some providers continue to offer high prices. The National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) has issued a warning that electricity tariffs exceeding 1 euro per kilowatt-hour may be considered excessive and could lead to regulatory action.
ANRE is encouraging consumers to use its online comparison tool to explore current offers and change providers free of charge—a process that typically takes up to 21 days.
As of 1 July, government-imposed fixed-price caps on electricity have expired. Households will now pay the market rate as specified in their current contracts or have the option to select new pricing plans under the renewed competitive market structure.