The ACUE Federation asks the authorities for concrete and quick financing measures, which would allow the reduction of the pressure of the liquidity deficit for energy suppliers in 2022, a deficit that deepens during the cold season, along with the increase in supplied quantities, according to a release received by Energynomics.
The increase in the quantities of energy supplied during the cold season, the high value of the sums paid in advance by the suppliers and their vital character in their cash flows require concrete and fast financing measures, which allow a decrease in the pressure of the liquidity deficit at the level of the suppliers of energy, in 2022, claim ACUE officials.
“The change in the payment term from 10 to 30 days deepens the risks regarding the security of energy supply during the cold season. Any legislative/administrative improvisation creates an additional risk in an already unbalanced situation. We request the responsible institutions to comply with their own commitments, within the term stipulated by the legal framework in force,” says Daniela Dărăban, Executive Director of the ACUE Federation.
The value of the maximum settlement ceiling of 1,300 lei/MWh is proven unrealistic by transactions on the wholesale market and represents a critical problem for the financing of energy purchases after September 1, 2022. Given that the real cost is not recognized for the calculation of the value average purchase price, suppliers will have difficulties in purchasing energy above the price of 1,300 lei/MWh. In the absence of the possibility of purchase, the conclusion/renewal of contracts with end customers will be blocked.
“When applying public interventions to establish electricity supply prices, the authorities can exceptionally and temporarily establish a price for the supply of electricity below the cost level, subject to compensation for the supply at prices below the cost level,” adds Daniela Dărban.
In order to avoid any potential risk of ensuring the continuity of supply, ACUE supports the need for the urgent adoption of a transparent way of calculating the maximum settlement ceiling.
ACUE officials claim that another aspect worth considering concerns the changes made to the support scheme for energy consumers. Starting from January 1, 2023, electricity suppliers have the obligation to apply a capped final price, according to the category in which the customer claims to belong, based on a declaration on the applicant’s own responsibility, but without having any kind of verification tool and without being able to refuse the granting of this facility. In this context, ACUE considers that clarifications are needed regarding the mechanism for implementing the support scheme, either by verifying the self-responsible declarations submitted by the beneficiaries, so that the facilities in question are granted only after the necessary checks have been carried out by the authority designated competent authority, either by the full assumption by the aid provider, in the present case the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Labor through ANPIS, of the obligation to recover the amounts granted to clients whose affidavits do not correspond to reality.
”We request the responsible authorities at both national and local level to actively support informing the beneficiary clients regarding the obligation to submit a self-responsible declaration.”
