Energy #14 Legislative focus

The Senate’s Economic Committee and Energy Committee issued a joint report of admission, with amendments, on the legislative proposal amending GEO No. 108/2022 on the decarbonisation of the energy sector.

The admitted amendment provides that lignite and hard coal capacities available on 31 December 2021 would be taken out of operation only after the construction and commissioning of new energy capacities described in the text as similar capacities.

The proposal maintains the general prohibition on commissioning new electricity generation capacity based on lignite, hard coal, anthracite or peat. It also retains a set of derogations related to national security, emergency situations, strategic stocks and energy security.

The wording approved at committee level does not further define what would qualify as similar new capacity or how the commissioning condition would be assessed in practice.

The amendment would place the availability of replacement capacity at the centre of the coal phase-out process. This is relevant for generators, investors and system operators because it links the withdrawal of existing coal capacity to the actual delivery of new generation assets, rather than only to a formal closure timeline.

The practical effect will depend on the final wording. A broad interpretation of similar capacity could create uncertainty around the type of projects needed before coal units can be retired, while a more precise definition could provide a clearer framework for planning replacement capacity and security-of-supply measures.

ANRE has launched a public consultation on a draft order amending the methodology for calculating and allocating additional CPT in 110 kV electricity networks.

The proposal would allocate additional CPT for each settlement interval in which this operating regime occurs. The allocation between electricity producers and the transmission system operator would be based on the quantities of electricity injected into the 110 kV network during the relevant interval.

The total additional CPT allocated to producers and the transmission system operator would result from aggregating the amounts calculated for each settlement interval. Distribution operators would also need to apply the calculation at interval level rather than relying only on an annual aggregated allocation key.

The proposal is directly relevant for electricity producers connected to 110 kV networks, Transelectrica and concessionary distribution operators. Moving towards interval-level allocation may change the cost exposure of individual participants depending on their actual injection profile and the timing of network conditions.

For producers, the effect is likely to vary by technology, generation profile and location in the network. Companies with assets connected at 110 kV will need to assess whether the proposed calculation changes their exposure compared with the current allocation approach.

ANRE approved a contribution for high-efficiency cogeneration of RON 0.0145/kWh, excluding VAT, applicable from 1 July 2026.

The order repeals ANRE Order No. 66/2025, which had established the previous contribution level. The contribution is collected through electricity bills and supports the high-efficiency cogeneration support scheme.

The measure changes a regulated cost component included in electricity bills for final customers. Although the unit-level impact is limited, it applies across consumption volumes and is therefore relevant for large commercial and industrial consumers, as well as suppliers responsible for reflecting the updated contribution in billing systems.

For energy-intensive companies, the revised contribution should be factored into electricity cost forecasts for the second half of 2026. The immediate operational effect will fall primarily on suppliers, which must update billing and customer communication processes for consumption from July onward.