Fast Facts
| Licence Lead Time | 4 months for local or passported licence |
| Minimum Financial Resources | EUR 200,000 |
| ANRE Application Fee | RON 2,500 (approx EUR 500) |
| Annual ANRE Contribution | 0.1% of turnover for the previous year |
| Largest Energy Source | Hydro, around 32% |
| Generation | Around 56 TWh, with fast growth of renewables |
Romania Power Market Fundamentals
Electricity trading operates within a fully liberalised and EU-integrated market.
Romania is integrated into EU coupled day-ahead and intraday markets through OPCOM and BRM, both operating as NEMOs under a multi-NEMO arrangement approved by ANRE.
Romania is the largest power system in South-East Europe. The renewables boom targets more than 15 GW of new solar and wind by 2030, supported by a EUR 3 billion CfD scheme and expanding BESS deployment.
When Is a Licence Required in Romania's Power Market?
An ANRE electricity trading licence (or supply licence) is mandatory for wholesale market participants.
EU License Passporting: Traders already licensed in another EU Member State can avoid full local licensing by obtaining a Confirmation Decision (Passported License) for wholesale power trading or supply.
Applicants submit a technical and financial dossier to ANRE, and pay the RON 2,500 licensing fee (approx. EUR 500).
Proof of at least EUR 200,000 in financial resources and three employees with three or more years of experience in the electricity sector is required.
What Are Romania's Power Market Licence Requirements for EU and Non-EU Entities?
EU Entities: entities with an existing power trading or supply licence in another EU jurisdiction can obtain a Confirmation Decision (a passported licence) to trade in Romania's power market. EU-based entities are also eligible to obtain a local ANRE License.
Non-EU Entities: must establish a local branch office or local corporation (LLC/JSC) in Romania for the entire duration of the trading licence, in order to obtain a supply or trading licence. This applies to all entities outside the EU, including Swiss or UK companies, as well as Energy Community contracting parties.
All applicants must demonstrate at least EUR 200,000 in available financial capacity, via own capital, credit lines or shareholder loans supported by bank and accounting records.
Balancing in the Romania Power Market
Transelectrica is Romania's Electricity TSO and manages grid operations, the balancing market and cross-border electricity exchanges. Romania is part of EU market coupling, but also borders non-coupled markets (e.g. Ukraine, Moldova, Serbia).
Participants must register as a Balance Responsible Party in Romania or join an existing BRP. The BRP guarantee is RON 1 million, approximately EUR 200,000.
System reserves are procured through auctions, and Romania is aligning its rules for integration with the European MARI and PICASSO platforms.
Transmission Capacity in the Romania Power Market
Day-ahead and intraday capacity for the Hungary and Bulgaria borders is handled through implicit allocation.
Serbia, Moldova and Ukraine use explicit auctions across all timeframes. Serbia and Moldova are handled by Transelectrica, while Ukrainian border capacity is handled by Ukrenergo.
Traders must register with relevant allocation platforms, such as JAO or directly with TSOs, and provide financial guarantees. New high-voltage lines with Moldova and Ukraine are under development.
Romania Power Market Exchange(s)
Romania operates two power exchanges: BRM via Nord Pool and state-owned OPCOM. Both are Nominated Electricity Market Operators under a multi-NEMO agreement approved by ANRE.
Both exchanges facilitate day-ahead and intraday spot markets integrated into SDAC and SIDC.
BRM also offers a forward electricity market with central counterparty clearing.
OPCOM manages several forward trading segments including PCCB-EA-flex and PCCB-OTC.
5 Market Entry Steps for Romania Power Market
- 01Obtain an ANRE licence or Confirmation Decision.
- 02Submit the BRP application to Transelectrica.
- 03Complete IT qualification with the TSO and provide the BRP guarantee.
- 04Register for explicit capacity booking where applicable for Moldova, Ukraine or Serbia.
- 05Apply to BRM or OPCOM power exchanges.
- Post-Market Entry Reporting Obligations.
CorreggioNET, Romania Power Market Access Report
Market Access Reports: CorreggioNET offers Pre-Market Entry Reports (PMER) as part of the PMER Library, providing firms an A to Z guide for market entry.
CorreggioNET Alert Service: helps you never miss a reporting obligation. Note that Romania has 10+ power market reporting obligations, combined with high regulatory volatility – where new rules are not always adequately consulted and communicated.
CorreggioNET Hotline: for your time-sensitive queries, the Regulatory Hotline Service provides direct support through an online interaction with a qualified regulatory specialist.
Consulting Solutions: For those firms which require additional assistance, Correggio Consulting is on hand to assist with all your licensing needs:
- Obtaining a trading licence in Romania;
- Passporting an EU licence in Romania;
- BRP Registration;
- Corporate structuring;
- Exchange onboarding;
- EFET contract negotiation;
- Yearly compliance audits.
Market Info
Stay Compliant After Market Entry
Entering a new market is only the beginning.
Once trading activity starts, the real challenge is staying compliant with ongoing regulatory updates and reporting obligations. CorreggioNET supports this post-market entry stage through its regulatory platform and monitoring services.
See platform services