Mihaela Suciu began a new four-year term as General Manager of Distribuție Energie Electrică Romania (DEER) on 5 October 2026. The priorities for the new mandate include accelerating and completing investments, digitalising and modernising the grid, increasing infrastructure resilience and strengthening the company’s execution capacity.
Suciu has led DEER since April 2022, a period in which the company navigated both the energy crisis and price volatility, as well as the integration of the structures and systems inherited from the merger of the three former regional distribution companies. According to DEER, the new mandate begins with a stronger financial and investment base and several major projects already under way.
“The first term was about integration, stabilisation and building a solid foundation. We are now entering a development phase in which the priority is to turn the projects and funding we have secured into completed investments and tangible results,” Mihaela Suciu said. She identified execution capacity, technology and the development of specialist expertise as essential elements for the company’s next stage of growth.
1.48 billion lei in investments in 2026
DEER said its net profit increased from 389 million lei in 2022 to more than 812 million lei in 2025, while completed investments rose from 558 million lei to 878 million lei over the same period.
For 2026, the distribution system operator has an approved CAPEX programme of 1.48 billion lei, the largest in the company’s history. DEER has also secured more than 2.1 billion lei through the Modernisation Fund for projects with a total value of close to 3.2 billion lei.
Against this backdrop, the company considers that the main challenge for the coming period is no longer simply securing financing, but turning approved projects into completed works.
“We have the money, we have the projects and we have access to European funds. The major challenge is completing the investments. We need to anticipate needs, prepare the infrastructure and have solutions available when challenges arise,” Mihaela Suciu said.
1.1 million smart meters and the digitalisation of operations
DEER’s development programme includes the rollout of 1.1 million smart meters, the modernisation and construction of substations and electricity grids, equipment upgrades, and the digitalisation of operational and business processes.
In parallel, the company plans to automate operations, expand the use of data and advanced technologies, develop predictive maintenance and strengthen cybersecurity. The objective is to build a more flexible and resilient grid capable of responding both to rising electricity demand and to the integration of new generation capacity.
Under its 2026-2035 Development Plan, DEER has earmarked approximately one billion euros for the modernisation and development of its distribution infrastructure. The company serves more than four million users and operates over 200,000 km of electricity grid across 18 counties, covering an area that represents 40.7% of Romania’s territory.
Another focus of the new mandate will be the development of internal capabilities. DEER highlights the need to prepare specialists for new technologies, transfer know-how and adapt its teams to an increasingly complex energy infrastructure.
“Technology is changing electricity distribution, but performance is not built through equipment and investment alone. Behind every result are the people who know the grid, find solutions and make things work every day,” Mihaela Suciu said.
