Energy suppliers no longer want to be involved in schemes to support vulnerable consumers. “In the energy supply sector, the problem of implementing the support scheme for final customers persists,” emphasised Daniela Daraban, executive director of the Association of Energy Utility Companies (ACUE), at the conference “Romanian Energy Market – Facts of 2025”.

In its current form, the scheme is bureaucratic and costly for providers, and they no longer accept the state using companies’ money for social causes and not paying their outstanding debts, she insisted. “The hope is that in 2025, a solution will be found to allow suppliers to exit this pre-financing system, to which they are practically forced.”

The support scheme has been in place since 2021, with suppliers obliged to pre-fund price cap and compensation to end consumers, In other words, social policy has been backed out of the supply companies’ funds. “This model of using available cash is unique, it is only in Romania. But there are other ways in which final consumers can be supported, because the state has an obligation to top up the aid promised to customers,” Daraban said.

The energy supply sector is facing a cash deficit of at least RON 5bn, which is affecting the ability of some suppliers to make payments on the value chain. According to Dan Daniela Daraban, it is necessary to resume payments from the state to system operators at an accelerated pace, and the suppliers do not want to be used to cover this cash deficit.

The conference “Romanian Energy Market – Facts of 2025” was organized by Energynomics with the support of our partners: Alive Capital, Elektra Renewable Support, Enevo Group, Hidroelectrica, Nano Energies. Software Media WEBUS 4 ENERGY, Think Blu Solution.