The National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) recently published a detailed analysis of compensation granted to consumers by electricity distribution operators. The report comes amid multiple customer complaints about frequent supply interruptions and delays in repairing faults.
For more information about ANRE, see also ANRE Order 9/2026: the new rule that could change locally produced energy in Romania, which provides additional details on this topic.
Key findings from the ANRE report
According to the document, thousands of incidents were recorded in 2024 that resulted in electricity supply restoration times exceeding the applicable standards. Under the regulations in force, end consumers are entitled to financial compensation in such cases, as set out in clear rules, but their application remains inadequate in many parts of the country.
- More than 42,000 reported incidents involving prolonged outages
- Only 57% of eligible consumers received compensation
- Total value of compensation paid: more than RON 12 million
- Most affected counties: Vaslui, Buzău, Giurgiu and Mehedinți
Statement by ANRE President George Niculescu
“ANRE aims to strengthen the compensation mechanism for consumers affected by unjustified outages or delayed interventions. It is unacceptable for a customer to wait days for supply to be restored without even minimal financial redress. We need to speak about fairness and accountability in the distributor-consumer relationship.”
— George Niculescu, ANRE President
What does the legislation say about compensation?
Under ANRE Order No. 11/2016 on the performance standard for electricity distribution services, distributors are required to provide automatic compensation in cases of:
- Reconnection delays beyond the legal deadline of 12, 24 or 72 hours, depending on the area
- More than 4 unplanned outages in a month
- Failure to comply with the quality parameters for the electricity supplied
Common problems reported by consumers
The report states that most complaints concern:
- Delays in receiving compensation, sometimes exceeding 6 months
- A lack of transparent information on legal rights
- Uneven application of the provisions depending on the county
- Complaints being ignored and a lack of effective communication channels
Consequences for distribution operators
ANRE announced that it would launch a series of thematic inspections between August and December 2025 to verify the proper implementation of the regulations. Operators that fail to grant compensation in accordance with the law risk fines of between RON 10,000 and RON 200,000, as well as additional administrative measures.
Proposed improvement measures
George Niculescu stressed that ANRE is already working to amend the legislation to introduce mechanisms for:
- Faster automatic compensation, without an express request
- Digital monitoring of compliance with quality standards
- Public transparency of quarterly reports on incidents and compensation
ANRE’s analysis reflects an imbalance between the legal obligations of distribution operators and the reality on the ground. While hundreds of thousands of consumers are affected each year by unjustified outages, only some receive compensation. A clear reform of the system is needed, and the position of ANRE President George Niculescu points to a firm direction in support of end consumers.
