Liberalizarea pietei de energie poate produce efecte pozitive doar daca „cineva” nu-si baga coadaThe Liberalization of the Energy Market Can Be Beneficial Only if ‘Someone’ Doesn’t Mess It Up

Dupa ce ne-a trecut spaima liberalizarii pietei de energie, paradoxal, am ajuns sa multumim Fondului Monetar si Bancii Mondiale si CE  pentru ca ne-au oferit aceasta oportunitate de a cumpara servicii performante intr-o piata libera si concurentiala. Pana sa ne vedem insa visul cu ochii mai avem de depasit niste obstacole, create nu de catre autoritati de data asta, cat mai ales de cei care isi vad amenintate pozitiile.
Profitul garantat nu este suficient

Sa ne reamintim ca incepand cu 1 septembrie 2012 a reinceput procesul de liberalizare al pietei de energie electrica, pentru categoriile de consumatori captivi persoane fizice si persoane juridice, altele decat cele eligibile. Procesul impus, asa cum spuneam de organismele financiare internationale, a starnit in Romania, pe de o parte confuzii in randul consumatorilor si, pe de alta parte, o presiune neasteptata pe distributiile de energie electrica. Cu ocazia aceasta au inceput sa iasa la lumina interventiile neortodoxe ale acestor distribuitori in piata, carora, totusi, Autoritatea de reglementare le-a purtat in continuare de grija.

Spre exemplu, inainte de deschiderea pietei, ANRE a emis un Ordin prin care a statutat o taxa suplimentara pentru consumatori, Componenta de Piata Libera (CPC), taxa ce a venit ca o manusa furnizorilor de energie care fac parte dintr-o familie mai mare ce cuprinde si distributia, astfel incat respectivii agenti economici sa nu fie zguduiti de eventualele impreviziuni ale pietei. Cu alte cuvinte, formula gasita de ANRE garanteaza un profit de 2,5% celor amintiti mai sus, prin intermediul CPC.
De fapt, s-a dorit ca CPC sa fie un element de protectie la cresterea pretului in piata libera, a carei deschidere a urcat din septembrie 2013 la un procent de 20%, pentru consumatorii persoane fizice. Deocamdata s-a asigurat un castig garantat pentru trimestrul IV a acestui an si pentru primul trimestru al anului viitor furnizorilor clasici de energie.
Numai ca judecata de acasa nu se potriveste intotdeauna cu cea din targ. Consumul de energie electrica a scazut drastic in ultimii doi ani ,ceea ce a dus si la o scadere a pretului energiei electrice, iar consumatorii persoane juridice (cei mici) au realizat ca din piata libera pot cumpara energie la preturi chiar mai mici decat in regim reglementat. Asa se traduce ecuatia cerere – oferta. Cu ocazia asta ne permitem sa sesizam ANRE asupra modului in care un pret de cos la reglementat, de circa 180 lei/MWh, ajunge la consumator la o valoare aproape dubla. Ce inseamna asta?
Efortul facut de stat pentru protejarea consumatorilor de efectele liberalizarii pietei s-a transformat in realitate in profit garantat pentru firmele care furnizeaza energie in propria retea de distributie . De ce vorbeste atunci ministrul delegat pentru energie, Constantin Nita, despre lipsa unor analize clare a evolutiilor post privatizare la distributiile de energie si despre nerealizarea investitiilor asumate sau lipsa de eficienta a serviciilor? O fi stiind el ceva.
Ce se intampla in piata?
Competitia in piata, pentru atragerea consumatorilor intrati in marja de liberalizare a inceput sa-si arate coltii. Faptul ca alti furnizori privati, altii decat cei care fac parte din familiile cu distributie, au inceput sa atace aceasta categorie de consumatori a obligat furnizorii traditionali sa reduca preturile si sa conditioneze prelungirea contractelor. In foarte multe cazuri descresterea de pret a fost semnificativa. Mai mult, daca in urma cu doua-trei luni, categoria de consumatori despre care vorbeam cunostea un singur pret general, acuma a inceput sa primeasca facturi cu pret defalcat (pret de baza plus taxe), facand relatia comerciala mult mai transparenta.
Ce sa inteleaga consumatorul?
Legea energiei electrice a transformat consumatorul intr-o parte suverana, avand dreptul sa schimbe furnizorul, prin respectarea procedurilor din Ordinul 88 al ANRE si o notificare cu 30 de zile inainte de data efectuarii schimbarii furnizorului. Daca pana acuma aceasta categorie de consumatori avea acces la oferta unui singur furnizor, din momentul deschiderii pietei se poate face selectia furnizorului dintr-un numar de peste 20-30 de furnizori competitivi, care pot raspunde solicitarilor consumatorilor. Trebuie stiut ca transparenta facturii este totala, competitia dintre furnizori desfasurandu-se doar la costurile de baza, costurile suplimentare fiind stabilite de catre ANRE, pentru fiecare zona de furnizare in parte. Alt element pozitiv consta in faptul ca diferenta se face nu numai la costurile de baza, ci mai ales la calitatea serviciilor de furnizare, care lasa mult de dorit in momentul de fata.
(va urma)Once we overcame our fear of the liberalization of the energy market, we paradoxically get to thank the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the EC for providing this opportunity to buy effective services on a free, competitive market. But before seeing our dream come true, there are obstacles to surmount; this time they are not created by the authorities, but rather by those who see their positions challenged.
Guaranteed profit is not sufficient

Remember that the process of liberalization of the electricity market started on September 1, 2012 for the captive consumer categories, both households and companies, other than the eligible ones. This process, dictated by the international financial organization, as we mentioned, has generated in Romania confusion among the consumers on one hand, and unexpected pressure for the electricity distributors. On this occasion, unorthodox interventions of these distributors became visible on the market, but the regulatory authority kept supporting them.

For instance, before the market opening, the ANRE (Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority) issued an Order implementing an additional tax for the consumer, the competitive market component (CPC), who suited very well the energy suppliers belonging to larger families including distributors; these companies were protected against the possible shocks due to market unpredictability. In other words, the formula found by the ANRE guarantees to these companies a profit of 2.5%, through the CPC.
Actually, the CPC was intended as a protection against the higher prices on the free market, whose opening degree reached 20% for the households in September 2013. So far, it guarantees to the classic energy suppliers profits for the last quarter of 2013 and the first quarter of 2014.
But best laid plans of mice and men oft go astray. The electricity demand has dropped during the last two years, which led to price cutbacks, and the (small) company consumers realized that on the free market they can buy energy at even lower prices than under regulated conditions. This is the result of the supply and demand equation. On this occasion, let us caution the ANRE about the way a regulated basket price around 180 RON/MWh is almost doubled for the end user. What does that mean?
The state’s effort to protect the consumers against the impact of the market liberalization has actually turned into a guaranteed profit for the companies who supply energy to their own distribution network. Then why does the minister for the energy, Mr. Constantin Nita, accuses the lack of accurate analysis of the post-privatization evolutions of the electricity distributors, the failed commitments of investments, or the inefficiency of the services? He must know something.
What happens on the market?
The market competition to attract consumers included in the liberalization margin has started to bite. Other private suppliers than those related to distributors started fighting for these consumers, so the traditional suppliers were forced to cut their prices and to set up conditions for extending the contracts. In many cases, the price cuts were significant. Moreover, if a couple of months ago the consumers we mentioned knew a single general price, they have now began to see invoices with price breakdown (basic price plus taxes), and thus the commercial relation has become much more transparent.
What should the consumers understand?
The Law on electric energy made the consumers independent parties who have the right to change their suppliers, in compliance with the Order #88 of the ANRE and with a 30-day notice. If so far these consumers could get a single suppliers’ offer, after the market opening the supplier can be selected among 20-30 competitors, who can adapt to the consumers’ requests. Remember that the invoice is completely transparent, so the suppliers compete only in terms of basic costs, while the additional costs are set by the ANRE for each supply area. Also on the plus side, it is not only the basic cost who makes the difference, but also the quality of the supply services, which is currently quite unsatisfactory.
(to be continued)