The National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) has started checks on energy suppliers to see how the bills were issued in February, in the context of energy market liberalization, Zoltan Nagy-Bege, the institution’s vice president, said on Wednesday.

“We have ongoing control actions at all suppliers of last resort and clarify how the invoices were issued for February, the only full month after the issuance of Order No. 5 of 2021 and when we have the conclusion of those controls we will certainly give a press release as well,” said Nagy-Bege.

ANRE approved at the end of January Order no. 5/2021 according to which household customers who have not changed the contract will benefit from the best price from the competitive offer of their suppliers.

“Thus, customers will benefit from the best price from the competitive offer of suppliers and will be able to opt for a new offer in a much simplified contracting process. Also, at least until June 30, 2021, home customers will receive from the current provider the best offer, without subscription, and will be able to benefit from a commercial discount to cover the difference between the price in the universal service offer applicable in the first half of 2021 and the price in the competitive offer with the lowest value,” said the ANRE representatives, according to Agerpres.

In turn, suppliers have voluntarily committed to offering these discounts to consumers.

At the end of last month, the Minister of Energy, Virgil Popescu, said that he is waiting for the invoices for the second month of the year to see if the suppliers keep their promises regarding the granting of discounts.

“I look forward to the February bill to see if all the suppliers’ promises are honored. And I believe in their good faith that we will have those discounts on the bills. I expect to see a drop in prices in February,” he said.

According to Popescu, if suppliers do not do this voluntarily, the ministry plans to amend the legislation so that companies are forced to make these reductions.