In a significant move towards enhancing its grid infrastructure, Retele Electrice Romania has earmarked approximately €281 million for network modernization and digitalization initiatives in 2025. This investment is part of the company’s strategy to adapt its distribution networks to the evolving demands associated with the energy transition.
As a subsidiary of the PPC Group, Retele Electrice reported that projects launched during this period are valued at around €241 million. The funding structure indicates that about €182 million will be sourced from internal resources, while the remainder will be obtained through external financing mechanisms.
The investment strategy encompasses key regions including Muntenia, Banat, and Dobrogea, with a focus on upgrading both high-voltage and medium-voltage infrastructure. Notable activities planned for 2025 include the commissioning of two new primary substations, modernization of four existing substations, and extensive work on overhead and underground lines. Specifically, the company aims to construct 1 km of new high-voltage line, refurbish approximately 64 km of existing high-voltage infrastructure, and add 303 km of new medium-voltage lines while upgrading an additional 453 km.
Digital transformation is a core aspect of this investment initiative. The company plans to install 575 new remote-control points and introduce nearly 1,000 secondary substations, with an additional 440 undergoing modernization. A notable achievement will be reaching a total of 2 million installed smart meters, marking a significant milestone in Romania’s electricity distribution sector.
Looking forward to 2026, Retele Electrice Romania anticipates maintaining a similar investment level with projected commissioned projects around €261 million. Of this amount, approximately €165 million is expected to come from company funds, with the remainder sourced externally.
The upcoming investment plan will prioritize replacing aging medium- and high-voltage cables and rehabilitating both overhead and underground networks. Enhancements will also focus on improving network redundancy and reliability through strategic reconfiguration and the establishment of new loops. Additional plans include expansions of transformer stations and upgrades to switching and protection systems, alongside further implementation of automation and remote-control technologies.
In conjunction with these initiatives, Retele Electrice Romania is set to continue executing externally financed projects over the medium term. From 2026 to 2029, the company aims to advance investments supported by the Modernization Fund across its operational regions, with an overall budget of €273 million that includes approximately €201 million in grant funding.
