The repeated attacks of Deloitte Romania representatives to the Romanian National Authority for Energy Regulation (ANRE) can affect this institution’s integrity and autonomy, reads a press release from the regulator. This communiqué follows the statements of Răzvan Nicolescu, former energy minister, former president of the European Agency for the Cooperation of Regulators Energy (ACER) and consultant for the energy sector at Deloitte Romania, on the uncertain skills of many employees of the authority.
“We are surprised by the attacks of the representatives of Deloitte Romania at our institution, on the Parliament’s ability to legislate and we point out that this may affect the integrity and autonomy of the agency through a mass media action, especially since the institution is involved in completing the full market liberalization of the electricity and natural gas. We believe that expressing in the public space of allegations regarding ANRE’s activity and employees is a form of pressure on our institution and that those opinions may be reflection of possible interests of companies with regulated activities that use the consulting services of Deloitte Romania”, reads ANRE’s release, published by Agerpres.
The authority’s management also stated that the defamatory statements undermine the regulatory act because it raises questions on the state of mission fulfilment.
“The shallow and unjustified allegations on the activity and employees of ANRE can lead not only to discrediting the institution, but also affects the regulatory act, placing doubt on how ANRE fulfills its mission conferred by law, that is to create and apply the system of regulations, necessary for the functioning of the electricity, cogeneration thermal power and natural gas markets”, added ANRE representatives.
They indicated several achievements of the institution in the last three years, including the issuance of more than 4,500 regulations and the positive evaluations obtained from international institutions such as the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
ANRE response comes after recent statements by Răzvan Nicolescu: “In ANRE are 300 people, but only 30 actually doing the work there. So far there were 200 and 20 of them really worked, and now they are 300 but the same 30 do the work”, said Nicolescu.
After the statements exposed above, the energy expert stressed that all his opinion on ANRE are made in his name only. He added: “I have great confidence in a rapid revival of some institutions. I have the highest expectations in connection with ANRE, which was among the first five to six in Europe as performance. There followed a period of decline and hope to return to the place that had once occupied it. The Regulatory Committee must be completed quickly. Hiring and promotion must be made solely on merit. Performance criteria should be introduced to wages.
Decisions must be transparent and predictable, without political interference. Other institutions (Court of Auditors, the Competition Council, ministries, etc.) must look ANRE as a partner, not an enemy. Without turning into an institution of social protection, consumer rights should be more publicized. I have great confidence that things can evolve for the better, especially since some of the human resource is of good quality. My positions related to ANRE do not have any hidden agenda, no hidden vendetta or interest. I am not pursuing any job inside ANRE, now or in the future. I only wish that this fundamental institution for the energy sector to return to where it was in recognition, performance and credibility.”
ANRE’s answer has attracted additional statements from Răzvan Nicolescu: “Following declarations and my post yesterday (Tuesday – e.n.) linked to the need to improve the performance of ANRE, the press office of the institution communicated a point of view that demands account with anger to the company where I work, trying perhaps to intimidate me in this way. […] In fact, many employees at ANRE confirmed that I was right and that the situation of the institution is the one described by me. Therefore, I recommend those who wrote the view to dose their effort to increase the performance of the institution and not to waste time with ridiculous initiatives.”