Starting from October 1, 2024, under ANRE Order no. 60/2024, changes will be implemented regarding the method of calculating the price of electricity sold during the trial period, as well as the maximum duration allowed for this period, depending on the installed capacity.
The Order, adopted at the end of August 2024 by the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE), establishes the duration of the trial period for different categories of installations, depending on the power of the connection point and installed power of the plant. Thus, the trial period from the first energization is set as follows:
- Category A installations: maximum 6 months;
- Category B and C installations: maximum 12 months;
- Category D installations: maximum 24 months.
Previously, these durations were not clearly specified, nor were there such detailed distinctions between categories.
According to the new amendments, the price of energy delivered during the trial period will change as follows:
- In the case of a positive PZU price, for electricity produced and delivered to the National Energy System (SEN), the producer will receive from the TSO (Transmission System Operator) the lower value between the closing price of the next day price (PZU) in each imbalance settlement interval and 400 lei/MWh;
- In the case of a negative PZU price, the producer will pay the TSO the amount corresponding to the negative price for the energy delivered to the National Energy System.
Additionally, the users in the trial period will no longer be able to submit offers on the balancing market, a prohibition that was not clearly regulated before.
Furthermore, the new regulation has introduced a fixed price of 400 RON/MWh as the upper limit for the price of electricity produced during the trial period.
Another significant change introduced by the adoption of ANRE Order no. 60/2024 is the obligation for users to register as a balancing responsible party (BRP) upon completion of the trials in order to participate in the electricity market. In the case that this registration does not occur, the production/consumption sites must be disconnected from the grid and remain so until the registration process is completed.
Moreover, it is important to note that users will not be able to conduct functional tests on public holidays and legal days off, and they will be required to inform the relevant network operator and TSO upon completion of these tests.