Bogdan Tudorache

Romania recorded the largest increase in electricity prices in the first quarter of this year (T1), 54%, on the wholesale market, according to a European Commission report.

“In terms of developments in individual markets, the biggest year-on-year price swings in the upward direction took place in Romania (+54%), Bulgaria (+40%), Hungary and Greece (both +37%), whereas the biggest de-creases/lowest increases could be observed in the UK (-1%), France (+7%), Belgium and the Netherlands (both +8%),”shows a DG Energy report.

However, the price trend for band and peak energy for Central and Eastern Europe is declining. In January-March 2019, prices fell from 65 euro/ MWh in January to 38 euro in March, in line with developments in the Union’s developed markets.

When compared to last Q1, however, the average baseload price in the reference quarter went up by 30% to 50 euro/ MWh.

The region remained a net importer of electricity in the reference quarter, but to a much lower extent than in Q1 2018, with net inflows reaching 2.2 TWh in Q1 2019, compared to 4.6 TWh in Q1 2018, as a warmer end of the winter curbed demand.