ANRE vice-president Zoltan Nagy-Bege says the high prices for electricity contracts are not a benchmark for the future.

He says the prices of 330 lei/ MWh, for the peak energy, with which Hidroelectrica has already sold energy in advance, can not be considered a reference. It would even be possible for these contracts not to be honored.

“It’s very hard to say. Even though Hidroelectrica currently concludes some contracts at 300 lei, they are not necessarily finalized by delivery. There are also some exit clauses. And the supplier can give up that contract if he pays the penalties. If at that time it finds cheaper energy on any platform and even on the spot markets, the supplier or the one who bought the energy from Hidroelectrica can get out of that contract. It is very difficult to say if, indeed, in 2020 or 2021 the prices will be of 300 lei, “Bege said, asked about the evolution of electricity prices for the industry in the coming years, according to economica.net.

He admitted, however, that the producers have a normal behavior trying to sell the most expensive energy on the free market.

“It’s somewhat normal for these companies, and I’m particularly referring to hydro and nuclear, which sell at that 5% rate of regulated profit. They sell well below the market price, it is normal for them to find tools to recover those income gaps they expected,” Bege said.