The new version of the Electricity Law significantly modernizes the national legal framework in line with the EU acquis and introduces a series of regulations aimed at boosting competition, launching the electricity market and integrating it with that of the European Union, promoting the installation of energy storage systems, the electrification of the economy, and enabling greater consumer participation in the energy market.

It is important to note that the new law transposes the EU’s Fourth Energy Package, also known as the Electricity Integration Package, which is part of the Clean Energy Package. This package has been mandatory for transposition into Moldovan legislation since 2022, as part of Moldova's commitments as a contracting party to the Energy Community Treaty. Its adoption will support the greater integration of Moldova’s electricity market into the European market.

As the author of the draft law, the Ministry of Energy has proposed several specific objectives aimed at supporting the development of energy infrastructure and promoting competition in the electricity market:

• Introducing new licensed activities, including energy storage, electricity trading, and aggregation activities.

• Establishing general principles regarding the functioning of electricity markets, including wholesale markets (bilateral contracts market, forward markets, day-ahead and intraday markets, and the balancing market).

• Specific requirements for the functioning of these markets will be set out in ANRE’s regulatory framework (e.g. Electricity Market Rules, Network Code on Balancing, Network Code on Capacity Allocation and Congestion Management).

• Promoting new business models in the electricity sector through the development of infrastructure for electric vehicle charging. This activity will not require a license to supply electricity.

• Strengthening regional cooperation to facilitate cross-border trade and manage network congestion — key elements for ensuring power system stability.

• Enhancing the role and rights of consumers as participants in the electricity market, including the introduction of the active consumer concept, encouraging self-consumption, and supporting the creation of citizen energy communities. This supports the transition to a decentralized production and consumption model.

• Promoting smart technologies for energy measurement and management, including tools for comparing electricity supply prices to help consumers find the best deals.

• Mandating that by the end of 2026, the technical process of changing electricity suppliers must not take longer than 24 hours.

• Assigning new responsibilities to ANRE for managing electricity crises, including enforcing public service obligations, monitoring license holders’ compliance with decisions of the Commission for Exceptional Situations, and applying sanctions when necessary.

• Defining new roles for the Transmission System Operator (TSO) in integrating Moldova’s electricity market with the regional (EU single) market. This includes purchasing system services through market-based mechanisms and setting rules for real-time system operation; efficiently, transparently, and non-discriminatorily allocating capacity and managing congestion.

• Transposing the EU Regulation on Wholesale Energy Market Integrity and Transparency (REMIT), which will increase transparency in the wholesale market and prevent market abuse.

• Establishing the legal framework and conditions necessary for designating an electricity market operator responsible for coupling Moldova’s market with the EU market.

• Provisions for optimizing the commissioning process of new electrical installations and for the transfer of connection infrastructure to system operators.

• Alignment with EU climate objectives by supporting the development of renewable energy sources and distributed generation, contributing to national goals under the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan.

The draft law fully harmonizes the national legislation with the EU acquis, opening Moldova's energy system to competition, innovation, and regional interconnection.

The new law contributes to strengthening the country’s energy security, ensuring the conditions for a reliable, sustainable, and competitively priced energy supply to the benefit of citizens, businesses, and the national economy.

The draft law was developed by the Ministry of Energy with support from the USAID Moldova Energy Security Activity (MESA), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the EU High-Level Advisers Mission, to ensure transposition of the EU Electricity Market Integration Package.