The spot market of the OPCOM stock exchange registered a decrease of 36.5% in April compared to March, according to the monthly reports published by them, but the total value of transactions in April 2022 was 1.781 billion lei, increasing by 132% compared to the same month last year. Consequently, the average price for electricity in April was 861 lei per MWh, compared to 1,356 lei per MWh in March. However, compared to April 2021, the quotation is 178% higher.
In terms of transaction volume, it decreased by 17% to 2,007,699 MWh. The market share of the spot market (Next Day Market - DAM) had the same downward trend, decreasing by 8 to 47%.
Under these conditions, the impact on the final consumer is significant. Although the price on the stock market has decreased, it is almost 200% higher than last year, which means that the price of the Romanian bill is much higher compared to 2021 or 2020.
The main measure by which domestic and non-domestic consumers can defend themselves is to identify and contract an electricity supplier and a natural gas supplier with whom to enter into a free market contract. For this, it is necessary to compare benefits such as a great price, the payment term, the easy transmission of the index and permanent assistance through the call center. The freedom to choose the energy supplier and the conditions for collaboration is key advantage for consumers, which they should take advantage of without delay.
Moreover, it is important to keep in mind that the change of energy supplier is free of charge, as it is forbidden to charge any fees or charges and does not involve technical changes to the gas installation or any other elements. Any homeowner who has a contract in force and wishes to withdraw from it must bear in mind that this denunciation becomes effective if all payment obligations are paid. It is the responsibility of the system operator to which the place of consumption is connected to determine the meter index corresponding to the date of the change of supplier.
Another solution is to offset the consumption of electricity and natural gas by energy suppliers. This was conceived by the Romanian Government as a form of protection for domestic and non-domestic consumers against the effects of rising prices caused mainly by the increase in prices at which suppliers purchase electricity and natural gas as commodities in wholesale trading markets.
Therefore, from the beginning of 2022, every month consumers receive as compensation a share of the value of energy consumption: at most 0.291 lei / kWh in the case of electricity and at most 33% of the value of the natural gas price component of the supply contract of the beneficiary customer. After the compensations will be applied, the final customer will pay not less than 0.68 lei / kWh for electricity (including VAT and all regulated tariffs included) and 125 lei / MWh for natural gas (excluding VAT and regulated tariffs included) because they represent the prices reference.