The compensation scheme – capping for energy could be extended until 2026, and I hope we will have a final answer in a maximum of two weeks, said in a press conference, the Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja.

“In the third quarter of last year, taking into account the capped prices, i.e. those actually paid by Romanians, Romania had the fourth cheapest gas and the fifth cheapest electricity in the European Union. These are the Eurostat data for the third quarter of 2023 . I’m curious if this positive news will be picked up. We have a scheme that works at the moment and it has ensured stability for the end customer and that has been very important. It has also ensured predictability for the rest of the year. It is true, we have had difficulties on the compensation part of the suppliers, where the debts are significant at the Ministry of Energy and I think we are talking about 1.5 – 1.6 billion lei. In this context, we have taken into account the fact that the market prices have fallen and then we are looking , together with ANRE, a formula for adjusting the compensation scheme – capping, which will reflect these lower prices in the market and which will also be felt at the level of Romanians. In no case, the prices will not increase for the final consumer,” said Burduja, according to Agerpres.

Asked if the compensation-ceiling scheme could be extended beyond March of next year, the Minister of Energy did not deny this option.

“There is a variant of extending the capping scheme until 2026, but I don’t want to make a decision. I hope we will have a final answer in a maximum of two weeks, We will correspond with the European Commission on this topic. The Commission will leave it to us”, he specified the dignitary.

An energy price cap scheme is currently in place, set to expire on 31 March 2025.