Two different roles on your bill: who brings the power (the distributor, a monopoly per zone) and who sets the price (the supplier, which you can switch for free).
The distributor physically brings electricity to your meter and handles faults — you cannot choose it. The price of energy and your bill are the responsibility of the supplier.
What is an electricity distributor?
Law 123/2012 · Art. 3 pts. 22 and 39 · EU Directive 2019/944 · Natural monopoly regulated by ANRE
The distributor is the operator that owns and operates the electricity grid — poles, cables, transformers and meters — through which energy physically reaches your meter from producers. It is a regulated natural monopoly: there is a single distributor per geographic area, designated through a state concession. The consumer cannot choose the distributor.
The unbundling principle (EU Directive 2009/72/EC and 2019/944) requires complete legal separation between distribution and supply activities — the same company cannot carry out both activities in the same area.
Natural monopoly — not chosen Licensed and regulated by ANRE Does not bill the consumer~25–35% of the final bill (distribution tariff)
Grid connection
Manages the connection approval, permits and energization for new consumers or changes to the installed power.
Maintenance and faults
Handles power outages and grid repairs 24/7. When the power goes out, you call the distributor — not the supplier.
Metering
Installs, checks and replaces meters (including smart meters). Sends consumption data to the supplier.
Non-discriminatory access
Ensures equal access to the grid for all suppliers (a principle required by EU Directive 2019/944 — unbundling).
Tariffs set by ANRE
Distribution tariffs are set periodically by ANRE — they are non-negotiable and appear on every bill.
The 4 electricity distributors in Romania
Assigned by region · All 0800 numbers are free and active 24/7 for emergencies
The supplier sets the price and issues the bill — you can switch it for free at any time, with no interruption to your power. Technical problems (outages, meters) are reported to the distributor in your area.
What is an electricity supplier?
Law 123/2012 · Art. 3 pts. 25–26 · Fully liberalized market since 2021 · Licensed by ANRE
The supplier is the commercial entity that buys energy wholesale (from producers or energy exchanges) and resells it to end consumers under a contract. It issues the monthly bill, sets the price of energy and is your sole commercial contact — it owns no physical grid infrastructure.
Unlike the distributor, the supplier operates in a competitive market with more than 80 ANRE-licensed players. You can switch supplier for free, at any time, with no work on your electrical installation and without a single second without power. The process takes a maximum of 21 calendar days.
Free to switch any time Licensed by ANRE Issues the monthly billCompetitive market · 80+ active suppliers
Wholesale energy procurement
Buys energy from producers or on the wholesale markets (the centralized market, the spot market, bilateral contracts) and resells it at retail.
Billing and contract
Issues the monthly bill based on the consumption read by the distributor. Manages the contract, payments and commercial complaints.
Free switching
You can switch supplier for free at any time, with no interruption to your supply. A maximum of 21 calendar days for processing.
Universal Service (US)
Suppliers designated by ANRE offer US — a guaranteed, affordable tariff for household customers without an active competitive offer.
Supplier of Last Resort (SoLR)
Designated by ANRE, it automatically takes over customers left without a supplier (bankruptcy, contract expiry) at a regulated tariff.
Universal Service Supplier — designated by zone
ANRE designates one US supplier per distribution zone · Official comparison tool: posf.ro
The official ANRE comparison tool — posf.ro — lets you compare the offers of all licensed suppliers in real time. Switching supplier requires no work on your electrical installation and does not interrupt your power supply.
