Regulation plays a vital role in energy distribution and transportation activities, and we need to see a more flexible, accommodating framework from ANRE that is closer to the times we live in, states the executive director of the Federation of Associations of Energy Utilities Companies (ACUE), Daniela Dărăban.
„Prosumers are new entrants in the energy sector and have their role very well defined. The problem is when we move away from the main purpose. The main objective is for the prosumer to produce energy for self-consumption, and if we go beyond that and get into the surplus that makes it possible to feed into the grid, then we have to talk about all the problems that come with that. There are some prosumers who have installed several panels for self-consumption. This is not a problem either, as long as the distribution operator, i.e. the regulator, understands that these situations are new. The distribution operators are given new roles, and the investments that the regulatory framework allows you to make are accommodated to the needs. So it's not a problem that distribution operators have. We have to say it's a problem that the energy sector has: how the objectives, the needs of the market are met by the right regulation. Because this is an area where regulation plays a vital role in distribution and transmission activity. As long as regulation takes into account the way the market is moving and wants to be reactive, it has to be reactive. If it wants to be proactive, it can look at the European regulations, what is happening in other countries and adjust its regulatory framework accordingly”explained Dărăban, on Wednesday, during the fifth edition of the Solar Energy Bucharest Summit, according to Agerpres.
It was also mentioned that, at present, distributors are not in conflict with prosumers, but optimal integration of surplus energy must be achieved without affecting grid safety.
„I wouldn't say that distributors are in conflict with prosumers. I believe the current situation needs to be analyzed and regulated in such a way that the role of the prosumer and the optimal integration of the surplus they bring to the system can be achieved without affecting grid stability or creating problems for other consumers. I believe solutions exist. However, we won't solve them by hiding from the problem and focusing only on the more vocal regulatory aspect. I think the solution comes from a coherent approach, from acknowledging the problems with facts, data, and figures, and, of course, from correct technical solutions. We need to see more flexible, accommodating regulation from ANRE (National Energy Regulatory Authority, editor's note), regulation that is closer to the times we live in and that we are building today for tomorrow. We need to see a slightly more modern regulatory framework.”, stated the head of ACUE.
The Employers' Organization of Renewable Energy Producers in Romania – PATRES and Creative Communications are organizing the fifth edition of the Solar Energy Bucharest Summit, from April 22-23, at the Palace of the Parliament.