Electricity bills could rise: 1,800 MW deficit at peak consumption

Electricity bills could rise in the coming period if suppliers request higher tariffs to recoup losses caused by the energy crisis in the system, according to Realitatea PLUS. Officials clarify that declaring a state of alert does not automatically lead to price increases for domestic consumers, but a rise in prices cannot be ruled out.

Most Romanians currently have fixed-price supply contracts. Nevertheless, suppliers could seek to revise tariffs, citing higher costs and losses accumulated in recent months.

According to data from the National Institute of Statistics, electricity is among the products and services with the largest price increases: compared to last year, electricity costs more than 50% more.

Regional energy reserves continue to shrink

Energy sector specialists are warning that the situation remains concerning. Romania experienced a difficult evening in terms of energy supply, even though authorities maintain that there is currently no imminent risk of a blackout. The problem is not Romania's alone – the safety margin across Eastern Europe as a whole is very slim and continues to decrease day by day.

Estimates for peak consumption on the previous evening indicate a deficit of approximately 1,800 megawatts in Romania. This shortfall required a substantial amount of imported energy. Under these circumstances, any major incident in the system or a sudden surge in consumption could place additional strain on the electricity grid. The evolution of costs and any potential requests from suppliers will influence bill levels in the period ahead.