The Competition Council has identified new barriers in the process of connecting household customers to electricity distribution networks, in a study, one of which refers to the difficulties faced by end users in fully understanding the connection activity, which is a complex one, involving many technical procedures.
The competition authority has completed the study on the connection of household customers to the electricity distribution networks, after receiving and analyzing the point of view of the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE).
Thus, the Competition Council appreciates that the development of a code of good practices in the activity of connecting users can lead to the reduction of some terms within the connection process.
According to the study, between 2018 and 2022, the number of household customers’ connections to the energy distribution networks increased, with operators allocating more funds both for the connection of new consumers and for the expansion of public interest electricity networks.
“This intensification of activity took place following the implementation of the provisions by which the connection costs were borne by the operators of the distribution systems. However, there were also dysfunctions in the connection process generated, mainly, by the frequent changes in the legislation, which have forced the distribution operators to reorganize their activity, repeatedly. In addition, the average annual duration of the connection process increased by about 30%,” state the representatives of the Competition Council, according to Agerpres.
According to the cited source, during the study, the competition authority also identified some barriers in the connection process. One of these refers to the difficulties encountered by end users in fully understanding the connection activity, which is a complex one, involving many technical procedures.
In addition, if in the period between the first semester of 2020 and the second semester of 2021, the legislation provided for the distribution system operators to bear the connection costs, the current regulations provide that the applicant (domestic consumer) is obliged to bear the actual value of the works of branch design and execution, being compensated by the operator only within the limit of the average value of a branch, value established by ANRE.
“In conclusion, it is necessary to ensure a clear and predictable legal framework, in which the actors affected by the potential changes are consulted. The Competition Council also appreciates that the development of a code of good practices in the activity of connecting users can lead to the reduction some terms within the connection process”, the document states.