The average gross basic salary within ANRE is approximately 23,000 RON, and the organizational structure of ANRE actually includes 28 organizational structures (directorates and services) with management positions, ANRE reported, following information released by the Association of Energy Prosumers and Communities in Romania (APCE).

APCE reported that ANRE must be reformed from scratch, but also that its employees earn, on average, 9,000 euros per month, according to Agerpres.

ANRE made the following clarifications: “Regarding the statement regarding ANRE’s organizational structure of “no less than 61 services, departments and compartments”, we would like to clarify that this is false. The organizational structure of ANRE actually includes 28 organizational structures (directorates and services) with management functions, and certain activities are organized separately at the level of departments without management functions (for example, in areas such as classified information, internal audit, occupational health and safety, etc.) in accordance with the applicable legal provisions.

”Regarding the information according to which ‘each ANRE employee earns, on average, 9,000 euros per month’, we would like to point out that this is false. The average gross basic salary within ANRE is approximately 23,000 RON. Also, according to the legislation, employee salaries are frozen for 2025 at the level of 2024.

“We would like to clarify that the information appearing in the public space regarding alleged benefits such as life insurance, additional bonuses or bonuses for ANRE employees is completely erroneous. ANRE carries out its activity in strict accordance with the legislation in force. According to the law, ANRE employees only benefit from legally stipulated bonuses: bonus for seniority, bonus for exercising a management position (as applicable) and bonus for preventive financial control, applicable only to the two persons who grant a preventive financial control visa.

Regarding the statements regarding the organizational structure of ANRE, we mention that, at the end of 2023, the reorganization imposed by the provisions of law 296/2023 was implemented. Thus, the number of management positions was reduced from 40 to 28, so that the institution falls within the 8% percentage provided for by law”, ANRE officials also indicated.

“Regarding the information regarding the budget forecast for 2025 of the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE), we mention that ANRE is not financed from the state budget, financing being ensured exclusively from its own sources. Furthermore, ANRE contributes to the state budget with the following amounts:

– the amounts from fines applied to economic operators in the energy sector. Thus, following the control actions carried out in 2024, ANRE applied fines to economic agents in a total amount of 39,662,831.11 lei. In addition, following the investigative actions carried out during 2024, the ANRE Regulatory Committee sanctioned with contravention fines from the turnover of some economic operators in the amount of 555,613,933.8 lei (approx. 111 million euros).

– the amounts related to the tax established under Law no. 296/2023 on some fiscal-budgetary measures to ensure Romania’s long-term financial sustainability, in the amount of 52 million lei in 2024 and 64,696,277 lei in 2025.

We specify that, in 2024, out of the total estimated expenses of 249,941,135 lei, 76.49% of the expenses were incurred, i.e. 191,179,266.17 lei. For 2025, expenses of 261,717,946 lei are estimated, from which the amount of 64,696,277 lei is deducted, which will be transferred to the state budget based on Law no. 296/2023, so that the budgetary forecasts strictly for the activity carried out by ANRE are similar to those in 2024”.

Because ANRE supports the correct development of the energy sector in Romania and after a thorough analysis of the contributions collected by ANRE, starting with 2024, for the first time the contributions collected from economic operators were reduced, and in some cases even eliminated, the Authority collecting reduced revenues compared to the previous year, while having, at the same time, a constant level of expenses approved by the revenue and expenditure budget.

“We would like to mention that, in the recent period, ANRE has taken on additional responsibilities in areas such as: offshore renewable energy, hydrogen, CfD, CO₂ storage, verification of the amounts requested by suppliers for settlement according to the compensation capping scheme. However, the staffing scheme has remained unchanged, despite the significant increase in workload.

Regarding the statement that ‘ANRE continues to make decisions without real consultations with relevant stakeholders’, we would like to specify that the Methodology for setting tariffs for the electricity distribution service was approved by order 67/2024 after an extensive 45-day public consultation process, carried out as follows: between 12.04–12.05.2024 and between 19.07-05.08.2024.

It is important to note that the transparency of the decision-making process is ensured through public consultation of the Methodology, not of the Order itself. The tariffs applied are the direct result of the principles established in this Methodology. This consultation process allows for the active involvement of stakeholders, ensuring an open and constructive dialogue.

Also, regarding Order 96/2024, we make the following clarification: according to art. 2 of ANRE Order no. 129/2022, ‘the regulated tariffs for the electricity transmission and distribution service, starting with 01.04.2023, shall be established in accordance with the provisions of the tariff setting methodologies in force and of this order.

ANRE decisions, including those regarding tariff adjustments, are based on rigorous technical and economic analyses, aiming to balance the need for infrastructure investments and the impact on consumers. ANRE remains open for clarifications and constructive feedback, ANRE also indicated”, ANRE officials also stated.