The Regulatory Committee of ANRE rejected the requests of DELALINA SRL and FOTO DISTRIBUȚIE SRL for granting the license for performing electricity distribution service. In the press release, ANRE justifies its decision by referring to some articles of ANRE Order no. 12/2015, which the two companies have not met.

Specifically, DELALINA SRL has no connection certificate issued in his favor by the network operator to which its facilities are connected [art. 23 para. (2) let. g)] and neither the approval of the concessionaire distribution operator [art. 23 para. (2) let. i)].

Subsequently the lack of these agreements, DELALINA SRL presented to ANRE an incomplete documentation, failing to respect the provisions of art. 29 para. (1) let. b). Finally, DELALINA SRL did not proved to ANRE that it has the required technical-organizational framework and trained personnel [ art. 29 para. (1) let. c)].

For FOTO DISTRIBUȚIE SRL, things are apparently somewhat better, because it has to respond only at two articles of the Regulation for granting licenses and authorizations in the electricity sector: art. 23 para. (2) let. i) and art. 29 para. (1) let. b). In fact, only the approval of the concessionaire distribution operator is missing.

In the final paragraph of the press release, the regulator justifies its decision by invoking the limits of the existing legal framework: “ANRE considers that it has taken the only decision permitted by the applicable legislative framework”.

According to information from the press, DELALINA SRL and FOTO DISTRIBUȚIE SRL are controlled by the RCS & RDS group.

In 2015, RCS & RDS accused ANRE that it restricts competition in the electricity distribution sector, as it rejects the licensing of some of the group’s companies as distributors. The group aims to achieve electricity distribution networks in Oradea and near Timișoara.