In the first quarter of 2026, Romania’s electricity landscape revealed a notable divergence between production and consumption trends. According to the National Institute for Statistics (INS), the country’s total electricity consumption amounted to 12.82 TWh, reflecting a 2.2% decrease from the same period in 2025. This decline can be attributed to varying demands across different sectors.
Industrial electricity usage remained relatively stable at 9.85 TWh, with only a minor reduction of 0.1% year-on-year. In contrast, household consumption saw a more significant drop, falling by 9.2% to reach 2.86 TWh. Interestingly, public lighting consumption increased, rising by 5.3% to approximately 115.1 GWh, suggesting a shift in energy use patterns.
Amidst this backdrop of declining demand, Romania’s electricity production experienced a robust increase of 8.8%, totaling 14.37 TWh in the first quarter of 2026. This growth was driven primarily by a remarkable surge in hydropower generation, which rose by 38.3% to 3.77 TWh. However, thermal power generation faced challenges, decreasing by 3% to 5.05 TWh.
The Cernavodă nuclear power plant also reported a slight production decrease of 3%, contributing 2.86 TWh to the national grid. Conversely, renewable energy sources showed positive momentum; wind energy generation increased by 18% to reach 1.9 TWh, while solar power production—including contributions from prosumers—grew by over 10%, totaling 774.1 GWh.
Electricity trading dynamics further underscored Romania’s evolving energy market during this period. Exports rose significantly by 13.9%, reaching 3.66 TWh, while imports fell by 15.4% to 3.84 TWh. This trend indicates a narrowing gap between domestic production capabilities and external supply dependencies.
In terms of primary energy production, Romania experienced an overall decline of 2.3% compared to the previous year, with total output reaching approximately 4,116 million tons of oil equivalent. The coal sector suffered the most, with production plummeting by 22.7%. Oil output decreased by 8.3%, and natural gas production saw a modest decline of 1.5%, reflecting broader challenges within the fossil fuel markets.
This complex interplay between declining consumption and rising production highlights Romania’s shifting energy landscape as it navigates its regulatory and operational frameworks in pursuit of sustainable energy goals.
