After a tumultuous 2022, marked by the energy crisis, in which multiple changes to the legislative framework regarding the support schemes applied to energy consumers were quickly followed, the year 2023 does not bring more clarity and simplicity in the legislation. While capped, energy bill values ​​remain an important concern for consumers and the auto-read index submission facility is used by many households.

Monitoring energy consumption is very important, and a simple step to keep costs under control, adjust consumption and increase energy efficiency is to self-read the monthly index and send it to the supplier.

From January 1, 2023, the transmission of the self-read index on the communication channels indicated by the supplier on the invoice takes on even greater importance as the capped price of electricity is applied to monthly consumption, stimulating the elimination of waste where appropriate. Depending on the index sent by the consumer, the electricity supplier will automatically enter the price ceiling corresponding to the consumption tranche. For 2022, the legislation provided for inclusion in the price ceilings according to the average monthly consumption from 2021.

If the index is not transmitted, the inclusion in the capped tranche will be done according to the quantities of the consumption convention provided in the contract with the energy supplier. Of course, the distribution operators are still obliged to read the meter every 3 months, and following the readings, the suppliers will issue regularization invoices, which will be plus or minus depending on the actual consumption.

The final billed price capped by suppliers for electricity consumed between January 1, 2023 and March 31, 2025 is a maximum of 0.68 lei/kWh for household customers whose monthly consumption is between 0-100 kWh inclusive, of a maximum of 0.80 lei/kWh for household customers whose monthly consumption exceeds 100 kWh, but is up to and including 255 kWh. For a monthly consumption over 255 kWh but not exceeding 300 kWh, the first 255 kWh are billed at 0.8 lei/kWh, and the rest at 1.3 lei/kWh. Household customers whose monthly consumption exceeds 300 kWh/month pay 1.3 lei/kWh for the entire amount.

Complete information about the index, about procedures and regulations related to meter reading and how consumption is billed can be found on the dedicated website www.autocitiri.ro.

In principle, the limit of 255 kWh/month easily covers the average electricity consumption in most households in Romania. More than 80% of the domestic customers of the ACUE Federation member suppliers have a consumption below 255 kWh. Between 7-9% of all customers are in the segment with a consumption between 255 kWh and 300 kWh, and 9-10% are customers with a consumption greater than 300 kWh.

In addition, in order to benefit from the lowest price ceiling of 0.68 lei/kWh, regardless of consumption, the legislation has established provisions for special situations of some household consumers such as:

• The use of devices, apparatus or medical equipment necessary to carry out the treatments (in addition to the application, a confirmation from the specialist doctor must also be submitted)
• Maintenance of at least 3 children up to the age of 18, respectively 26 years, if they follow a form of education
• Single-parent families, who have at least one dependent child aged up to 18 years, respectively 26 years old if they follow a form of education*

In these cases, it is necessary to send to the supplier a request accompanied by the declaration of personal responsibility – forms that can be found on the websites of the suppliers. This ceiling also benefits those who use the place of consumption as tenants; they need to send an additional copy after the rental contract to the electricity supplier. All these supporting documents can be sent to the supplier by email or online, through operator development applications. Documents can also be submitted to customer service centers. The price of 0.68 lei/kWh will apply from the first of the month following the one in which the documents were submitted.

Regarding the price of natural gas, it will not exceed, between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2025, the ceiling of 0.31 lei/kWh with VAT and all costs and regulated tariffs included. All domestic customers benefit from this ceiling, regardless of consumption. Even if the price ceiling for natural gas is not conditional on consumption, the transmission of the self-read index is important. During the cold season, the quantities consumed are important and it is good to have predictability on the value of the bill, and the cost to reflect exactly the consumption.

Predictability of costs, adjustment of energy consumption, responsible consumption, energy efficiency, optimization of the bill by fitting into a lower consumption tranche, and automatically at a lower price – represent a series of benefits resulting from a simple gesture – that of self-reading and the monthly transmission of the index.