The National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) has asked the National Audiovisual Council (CNA) to approve a message of public interest, which will be broadcast free of charge on television to inform people about the liberalization of the energy market, said Zoltan Nagy-Beg, vice-president of the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE).

“I will attend today (Tuesday) In the plenary session of the board of the National Audiovisual Council (CNA) to support a request submitted since last year by which we ask the CNA to approve a message of public interest on the liberalization of energy markets, a message which, if approved, will be broadcast free of charge in the audiovisual media and we hope that during this six-month period as much information as possible will reach consumers, because it is in their interest to be informed and it is in their advantage to make a decision, not to remain inactive in the universal service market,” Bege said.

However, in his opinion, the whole liberalization scandal was not caused by the lack of information of the people, but by the fact that the prices have increased a lot since January 1, 2021.

“I would like to talk about the much contested liberalization and what was the approach of ANRE. (…) Although everyone encouraged the theory that the liberalization scandal was triggered by the lack of information of the people, I would like to contradict this theory, because I I think the scandal is due to this price increase, which can be as much as 20%. Legally, ANRE did not have the possibility to oblige the suppliers of last resort to apply another price from January 1 than the universal service price. A universal service all over the EU, we have six qualified last resort providers in 2020, they are the only ones who are entitled to offer this universal service price, they have assumed this role, they were the only ones who could be obliged and the universal service price was the only one that could be posted to take over those consumers that, at the end of 2020, did not opt for a contract on the competitive market,” Bege was quoted as saying by Agerpres.

He stressed that suppliers are the ones who have to inform customers, not ANRE, and consumers must also show interest in this topic.

“Yes, I admit, ANRE has not assumed this role of directly informing consumers. We could not assume this role, because we do not have the means to do so. Instead, suppliers have it. They have this obligation…Obviously, there is a need for a minimum of interest from consumers, to take a step, to make a decision and not to be 100% served by others,” said the vice president of the regulatory body.

Bege explained that, in fact, the price paid by domestic consumers so far was too low. This is because, in order to implement GEO 114, domestic customers have so far received energy from the cheapest producers, Hidroelectrica and Nuclearelectrica.

“ANRE cannot now have any intervention in the market, according to European regulations. So far we have forced Hidroelectrica and Nuclearelectrica to deliver energy to domestic consumption at the price formed by cost plus 5% and I do not think anyone can now deliver consistent quantities in market at this price,” he stressed.