ANRE approves new mechanism to pay consumers for reducing electricity use

The National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) has approved a new regulation regarding consumption flexibility services. This market mechanism allows eligible consumers—either directly or through providers and aggregators—to be remunerated for the temporary and voluntary reduction of their electricity consumption.

This new resource is intended to function during normal market operations as well as during periods of stress, such as resource deficits, extreme temperatures, or production unavailability. Participation is entirely voluntary and based on the consumer's operational needs and market economic conditions.

According to ANRE President George Niculescu, the mechanism is not a form of consumption rationing. Instead, it introduces consumption flexibility as a resource with market value. By reducing demand voluntarily, the system can avoid using more expensive balancing resources, which helps lower the total costs passed on to consumers.