AGERPRES special correspondent Nicoleta Gherasi reports: A non-modernised energy network means a brake on the development of the Romanian economy and the European economy, and for Romania it is very important that the need to develop distribution networks is being emphasised at European level, Director General of the Electricity Distribution Romania (DEER) Mihaela Rodica Suciu said.

'It is finally being recognised that the modernisation and development of networks comes first and has a direct impact on the competitiveness of the European economy and the Romanian economy. We, as a distributor, have always stressed the importance of modernisation and investment in distribution networks because without them we cannot talk about green energy and we cannot talk about cheap energy. But the fact that at this moment distributors meeting at Eurelectric are also discussing network modernisation, and that the European Commission is emphasising network development, is a perfect situation for us because we need investments, we need funding and we need people in the industry who understand the need to modernise and develop distribution networks. (...) I am convinced that we will leave Helsinki with new clear directions across Europe, but for Romania it is very important that the need to develop networks is being emphasised at European level,' said Mihaela Suciu on the sidelines of the Eurelectric Power Summit 2026.

According to her, distributors in Romania have accessed all funds allocated for network development, but these are not sufficient.

'I hope that after this meeting we will have other funding lines and that we will be able to modernise our networks. A non-modernised network means a brake on the development of the Romanian economy and the European economy and all stakeholders want network development, they want cheap energy and green energy. This can only be achieved through the development of distribution networks and I am extremely pleased about this because we need the support of the entire European and Romanian community, of lawmakers and of the ANRE [National Energy Regulatory Authority] for changes and flexibility in legislation, so that it is much more permissive and much easier to develop electricity distribution infrastructure,' the DEER director said.

She also stressed that the company's annual investment programme is around 150 million euro, last year exceeding this level.

'We exceed our investment programme year after year because we do not limit ourselves to it and we have investments under the Modernisation Fund that must be completed in the next two years, worth almost 400 million euro. We also signed another funding project this year under PDD [the Sustainable Development Programme]. I hope that in the near future we will sign more. I want us to attract all the money for network modernisation, all European funds, so as not to put pressure on the distribution tariff, but in principle we start from 150 million euro upwards. Finally, networks and the implementation of smart metering [intelligent metering] in the DEER, because we have been less fortunate, we did not have a high level of smart metering implementation. At present, we have 1,100,000 meters under implementation with signed contracts. I can tell you that by next year we will have contracts signed for more than 2 million meters and 2028-2030 will look good from the perspective of smart metering implementation in DEER, which means that 3 million meters will be in place by 2030,' Suciu said.

The DEER director also warned that no industry can be developed without available capacity and that any investor arriving in any distribution area first comes to the company to ask 'whether there is power.'

She added that in the other areas work continues on traditional modernisation and the implementation of smart metering, with 1.1 million meters installed in 14 county capitals, while the remaining county capitals are also set to follow.

The DEER director further underscored that investment delivery must be accelerated and that discussions are therefore being held with implementers to complete projects more quickly.

Leaders from the energy industry, innovators and service providers are meeting on Wednesday and Thursday in the Finnish capital at the Eurelectric Power Summit, which this year is taking place under the theme 'Bringing Power to Life.'

According to the organisers, the event provides the tools, connections and insights needed to stay ahead of the rapid changes shaping the energy systems of the tomorrow.

The 2026 edition of the summit will focus on the importance of accelerating electrification across all sectors to achieve Europe's climate objectives; energy security of supply in a changing world; ensuring Europe's competitiveness on the global stage through innovative energy solutions; mobilising the investment and infrastructure needed to make this transformation a reality.

Eurelectric is the federation of the European electricity industry and represents more than 3,500 European utility companies active in the generation, distribution and supply of electricity. AGERPRES (RO - editing by: Mariana Nica; EN - writing by: Rodica State)