ANRE Order 9/2026: Romania’s New Energy Community Rules

Business14 min readUpdated 12 May 2026

Updated: 12 May 2026 la 21:58. Articolul a fost revizuit pentru a reflecta informațiile disponibile la această dată.

ANRE Order 9/2026 is one of the most important recent measures for the future of energy communities in Romania. Issued by the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE), the order was published in Official Gazette No. 384 of 7 May 2026 and establishes the rules under which energy communities may participate in wholesale electricity markets.

In short, the new order creates a framework through which renewable energy communities and citizen energy communities can sell surplus energy, buy electricity for their members and use storage capacity, such as batteries, to provide services to grid operators.

The official measure is available on the Legislative Portal, while the rules approved by the order are published in the annex available on legislatie.just.ro.

What ANRE Order 9/2026 is and why it matters

ANRE Order 9/2026 approves the rules governing the participation of a renewable energy community or a citizen energy community in wholesale electricity markets. It also sets the conditions under which storage facilities belonging to the community or its members may be used to provide services to grid operators.

The order matters because locally generated electricity is no longer viewed solely through the lens of the individual prosumer. The new framework paves the way for collective projects in which multiple citizens, associations, NGOs, cooperatives or local communities can produce, consume, store and monetise energy in an organised way.

In other words, an energy community can become a genuine participant in the energy market, rather than simply a group of consumers installing solar panels on their roofs. The distinction matters: a prosumer generates and consumes electricity individually, whereas an energy community involves collective organisation, internal rules, contracts and shared responsibilities.

What an energy community means

An energy community is an organisational arrangement through which several members can produce, consume, store, buy or sell electricity. In the case of ANRE Order No. 9/2026, the rules apply to both renewable energy communities and citizen energy communities.

It is important to distinguish between a prosumer and an energy community. A prosumer is generally an individual or legal entity that produces electricity for its own consumption and feeds surplus electricity into the grid. An energy community is a collective structure in which several members can coordinate their generation, consumption and storage.

For example, in a neighbourhood of 30 homes, some households may have solar panels, others may have batteries, and electricity use may vary from one household to another. Through an energy community, these resources can be managed more efficiently, so that locally generated energy is used primarily within the community and the surplus is monetised in accordance with the law.

What ANRE Order 9/2026 specifically allows

The rules approved by ANRE Order 9/2026 establish that an energy community may participate in wholesale electricity markets. This means it can sell energy generated in surplus after meeting its members’ consumption needs, while also buying electricity for those members’ consumption.

The order allows energy communities to participate in organised electricity markets, including the balancing market, provided that legal and technical requirements are met. Communities may also enter into bilateral contracts outside organised markets, in compliance with the applicable regulatory framework.

In practice, this could change how locally generated electricity is regarded. It is no longer only a matter of a household feeding surplus electricity into the grid, but of a community that can manage generation, consumption, storage and its relationship with the energy market.

Concrete examples: how an energy community could work

Example 1: A neighbourhood of houses with solar panels. Several households in the same neighbourhood install solar panels, and some also have batteries. During the day, the electricity generated covers the homes’ consumption, while the surplus can be stored or sold. In the evening, when solar generation falls, the community can use stored energy or buy electricity for its members.

For more information on prosumers, see also Prosumers call for 5% VAT on panels and monthly compensation: what Romanians could gain, which provides complementary details on this subject.

Example 2: An apartment building with panels for common areas. A homeowners’ association installs solar panels for stairwell lighting, lifts, pumps and other shared uses. If the project is designed strictly for self-consumption, its main benefit is lower shared costs. If the project becomes more complex and involves selling energy or participating in the market, additional obligations arise.

Example 3: A commune using public buildings. The town hall, school, clinic and other public buildings may become part of a local energy project. Panels can generate electricity for local use, while surplus energy can be managed through an energy community, depending on the legal form and applicable rules.

Example 4: Prosumers with batteries joining together. Several prosumers who already have solar systems and batteries can make their storage capacity available to the community through internal contractual arrangements. This would allow batteries to be used not only for self-consumption, but also for flexibility services or other services for grid operators.

The role of batteries: from self-consumption to grid services

One of the most important developments in ANRE Order 9/2026 concerns energy storage. The rules allow storage capacity owned by the community or its members to be used to provide services to grid operators, provided that technical, legal and contractual conditions are met.

This matters because batteries are no longer seen only as a solution for a household’s own consumption. In a modern energy system, storage can help reduce imbalances, manage peaks in demand and make smarter use of electricity generated from renewable sources.

For people considering a solar system, choosing an inverter becomes all the more important. A suitable inverter should be assessed not only by its rated power, but also by its compatibility with batteries, its ability to limit exports and how it manages consumption and grid injection. We explain these criteria in more detail in How to choose an inverter for solar panels in 2026.

Why the order should not be confused with simple rules for prosumers

One possible source of confusion is the difference between a prosumer and an energy community. ANRE Order 9/2026 does not say that every individual prosumer can sell electricity in any way they choose, without rules or obligations. The measure concerns energy communities registered and organised in line with ANRE regulations.

Individual prosumers remain important, but an energy community is a more advanced step. It entails organisation, collective responsibility, contracts, rules for market participation and, in some cases, licences or exemptions from licensing.

Nor do prosumers’ technical problems disappear automatically. In areas where the grid is weak or already congested, voltage increases, inverter disconnections and limits on grid injection may occur. We examined this issue separately in Is it worth becoming a prosumer? Voltage spikes and grid problems.

Licences, exemptions and responsibilities

Participation in wholesale electricity markets is subject to conditions. Depending on the activity carried out, an energy community may need a licence for the commercial operation of generation, supply, trading or aggregation capacity, or for the commercial operation of storage facilities.

The order also provides for exemptions. For example, exemptions from the obligation to hold a licence may apply to certain generation and/or storage capacities with a total electrical capacity below 1 MW. Specific situations are also mentioned for condominiums, NGOs, associations and foundations, depending on how electricity is produced and used.

However, an exemption from a licence does not mean a complete absence of rules. The community must comply with applicable legislation, ANRE regulations, the conditions of electricity markets and grid operators’ technical requirements.

Responsibility for imbalances: the part many overlook

A key aspect of ANRE Order 9/2026 is responsibility for imbalances. Electricity must be forecast, generated, consumed and traded within a system that constantly requires a balance between generation and consumption.

If a community estimates that it will deliver a certain quantity of electricity but actually generates less or more, imbalances arise. These imbalances can generate costs. For this reason, the order states that an energy community must assume financial responsibility for imbalances, either directly or by transferring that responsibility to a balance-responsible party.

This provision shows that locally generated energy cannot operate separately from market rules. Energy communities may have benefits, but they also require professional management, accurate forecasts, clear contracts and robust metering systems.

The link with investment in distribution grids

Energy communities can reduce pressure on the grid if electricity is consumed locally and storage is used intelligently. However, they cannot solve all problems in the distribution system on their own. In many areas, grids require significant investment to support the growing number of prosumers and solar projects.

This is why ANRE Order 9/2026 should be considered alongside the broader discussion about distribution operators’ investments, service quality and how system costs are compensated. We separately examined this context in Analysis: compensation, electricity distribution and ANRE’s role in decisions on grids.

Challenges energy communities may face

Although the new order is an important step, implementation will not be simple. The first challenge is bureaucracy. An energy community must be legally organised, registered, managed and aligned with ANRE rules. For ordinary people, this process may seem complicated.

The second challenge is technical. Projects need meters, metering systems, compatible equipment, correctly configured inverters, potentially batteries and monitoring solutions. Without clear data on generation and consumption, a community cannot operate efficiently.

The third challenge is grid capacity. In some areas, the distribution grid may already be overstretched. If too many grid injections occur simultaneously, voltage problems, constraints or disconnections may result. In these cases, storage and local self-consumption become especially important.

The fourth challenge is internal management. Community members must clearly know who invests, who consumes, who receives the benefits, how costs are shared, who is responsible for imbalances and what happens if a member leaves the community.

The fifth challenge is financial. While solar energy can reduce costs in the long term, the initial investment in panels, batteries, design, permits, equipment and management can be significant.

Practical steps for those looking to establish an energy community

Those considering an energy community should begin with a clear analysis of consumption and generation potential. Available roofs for panels are not enough. Actual consumption, hourly consumption patterns, generation capacity, storage options and local grid capacity must be calculated.

Identify interested members — households, homeowners’ associations, NGOs, small businesses or local institutions.
Analyse consumption — bills, monthly consumption, daytime consumption and evening consumption.
Assess space for panels — roofs, public buildings, land or other available surfaces.
Check the local grid — available capacity, connection options, risks of overvoltage or constraints.
Choose an organisational form — an association, cooperative, NGO or another structure allowed by law.
Set internal rules — who invests, who consumes, and how benefits and costs are shared.
Assess whether licences or exemptions are needed — depending on capacity, activity and how the electricity is used.
Select equipment — panels, inverters, batteries, monitoring systems and protection equipment.
Engage a specialist — a designer, authorised installer, energy consultant or specialist lawyer.
Register and comply with ANRE requirements — including obligations relating to electricity markets and any services for grid operators.

These steps do not replace technical or legal advice, but they indicate the general direction. An energy community should be treated as a serious project, not as an informal arrangement between neighbours.

What prosumers should watch in the coming period

Prosumers who already have solar panels should follow how ANRE implements this order in practice and how procedures for energy communities are clarified. It is also important to monitor developments in rules on storage, aggregation and flexibility services.

People only now designing their solar system should take a long-term view of the investment. A system without a battery may be sufficient for straightforward self-consumption, but a system prepared for storage, monitoring and smart control could become more valuable if the energy-community market develops.

At the same time, people should avoid the mistaken assumption that the new order guarantees quick gains. Energy communities can bring benefits, but only if they are well designed, well managed and properly integrated into the grid and the electricity market.

Long-term impact on Romania’s energy market

In the long term, ANRE Order 9/2026 could help change how energy is generated and consumed in Romania. While the market has until now been dominated by large producers, suppliers and individual consumers, energy communities can introduce a more decentralised model.

This model can bring more locally generated energy, more self-consumption, better use of batteries and greater citizen involvement. Rather than electricity always travelling long distances, part of the generation can be used close to where it is produced.

For consumers, the impact could mean more predictable bills, access to renewable energy and better protection against price fluctuations. For the energy market, it could mean greater flexibility, more distributed sources and stronger pressure to modernise grids.

Useful resources for those interested in energy communities

Those seeking a better understanding of the legal and technical framework can start with official documents and a careful analysis of their own consumption. The most important resources are the text of ANRE Order No. 9/2026, the rules approved by its annex, ANRE guidance and technical information from distribution operators.

Conclusion: ANRE Order 9/2026 could change the role of Romanian consumers

ANRE Order 9/2026 is an important step towards a more flexible, local and participatory energy market. The measure does not provide free electricity or eliminate bureaucracy, but it creates a framework through which citizens, associations and local communities can become more than mere consumers.

Through energy communities, Romanians could generate energy locally, make better use of surplus electricity, integrate batteries and participate in the energy market in a more organised way. If the rules are applied clearly and grids are modernised, the long-term impact could be substantial: more renewable energy, better-controlled bills and greater consumer involvement in their own energy future.

However, the success of this model will depend on practical implementation. Without simple procedures, sound technical advice and investment in grids, energy communities may remain difficult to establish. With clear rules and well-designed projects, ANRE Order 9/2026 could become one of the most important changes for local energy in Romania.

Frequently asked questions about ANRE Order 9/2026

When was ANRE Order 9/2026 published?

ANRE Order No. 9/2026 was published in Official Gazette No. 384 of 7 May 2026 and entered into force on the date of publication.

What does ANRE Order 9/2026 regulate?

The order establishes the rules under which renewable energy communities and citizen energy communities may participate in wholesale electricity markets and use storage capacity to provide services to grid operators.

What is the difference between a prosumer and an energy community?

A prosumer generates and consumes energy in their own name, and surplus electricity may be fed into the grid. An energy community is a collective organisational arrangement in which several members can produce, consume, store, buy or sell energy in accordance with the law.

Can energy communities sell surplus energy?

Yes. Energy communities may participate in wholesale markets to sell surplus energy after meeting their members’ consumption needs, provided they comply with legal requirements and ANRE regulations.

Can batteries be used in an energy community?

Yes. Storage capacity belonging to the community or its members may be used to provide services to grid operators if technical, contractual and legal requirements are met.

Does ANRE Order 9/2026 automatically apply to all prosumers?

No. The order concerns energy communities registered and organised in accordance with ANRE regulations. Individual prosumers may become relevant in this framework if they are part of such a community.

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