How to become a prosumer

Prosumers are not just consumers of energy from the electrical grid, but they are also generators of energy from their own renewable sources. They generate energy for their own consumption and inject the surplus into the national distribution network for a fee based on a sale and purchase agreement concluded with their electricity supplier. Therefore, prosumers must own an energy-generating source, such as photovoltaic panels, and this source must be connected to the electricity distributor's network (on grid), and conclude a sale and purchase agreement with their supplier for electricity generated and delivered to the network.

The connection to the electricity grids of public interest for the consumption and generation places belonging to the prosumers is done based on NAER Order no. 19/2022. This order provides the stages that a customer must go through in order to obtain the Connection Certificate attesting their capacity as prosumer. These stages depend on the situation of the consumption place in question (new consumption and generation place, or the connection electricity generation facilities to an existing consumption place is requested, whether or not there is a need to increase the energy compared to the approved energy amount for the respective consumption place). Thus, the average deadline for the approval of files, completion of works and issuance of Connection Certificates may vary depending on the various stages completed and on any additional documents that may be requested by third parties. 

According to Order 15/2022, electricity suppliers must conclude the sale and purchase agreements for the electricity generated and injected into the grid and submit them with the prosumers, within 10 business days from the request date. The request can only be issued after the customer has obtained the Connection Certificate from the electricity distributor in the area where the facility is located, certifying their capacity as prosumer.

It is also worth noting that only on-grid photovoltaic panels whose power cannot exceed the power specified in the technical connection approval can be installed at the consumption place. For example, if a customer has a rated power of 5kW and wants to install an 8kW system, the first step is to ask the distribution operator for a power increase, followed by the system installation. The costs related to obtaining the power increase will be borne by the consumer. Without a power increase, the consumer can only install a system with a max. rated power of 5kW.

Another useful piece of information is that photovoltaic system inverters need to be certified by distribution operators. Each operator’s website provides a list of inverters that are already certified, therefore, we recommend that prospective prosumers review these lists before purchasing the photovoltaic system. If the consumer's inverter does not feature on the respective lists, the prospective prosumer must undertake the certification steps, and only afterwards may the distribution operator approve the commissioning of the systems.