The individual capacity limits for prosumers and other changes to the “net billing” support mechanism for small renewable energy producers were discussed on Wednesday during a consultative meeting with electricity supply and distribution companies, relevant associations, and other stakeholders in the energy sector.
As a result of the latest round of public consultations, a 10 kW individual cap for household renewable energy prosumers has been proposed—representing a significant increase from the current limit. At present, households that install heat pumps after setting up and connecting photovoltaic panels must prove, over the course of a year, that their energy consumption has increased compared to the initial level in order to be allowed to expand the capacity of their photovoltaic systems. Under the new rules, the Ministry aims to promote electrification in the heating and transportation sectors, offering more flexibility by raising the cap to 10 kW. On average, a home requires about 3.5 kW to cover electricity needs and around 7 kW if a heat pump is installed. These changes thus provide sufficient capacity to cover self-consumption, even for households with heat pumps or electric vehicles.
The individual capacity limit was introduced in 2024 when the support mechanism transitioned from “net metering” (which had fulfilled its policy objectives) to “net billing.” The reason for this shift was that a system intended to strictly cover a user’s own consumption was being used for commercial purposes—many users oversized their solar installations and sold excess energy. Additionally, other consumers ended up subsidizing the free use of the distribution grid as a form of "battery storage" for these users, alongside the additional infrastructure investments that were socially distributed among all consumers. This was enabled by legislation that allowed electricity produced in the summer to be used in winter. One year after implementation, the average installed power of photovoltaic plants under the net billing mechanism decreased by 42% for individuals and 12% for legal entities, compared to those under the net metering system.
Under the proposed changes, beneficiaries of the net billing mechanism will be able to receive connection permits without being limited by capacity quotas, granting them greater flexibility. The fixed individual capacity cap will be eliminated, which is expected to stimulate the development of renewable energy projects for households, public institutions, and the private sector. This change will allow a fairer distribution of generation capacity, making renewable energy systems more accessible to a broader range of users, including households and small businesses.
“As the use of renewable energy sources increases—which are more affordable in the long run—electricity costs will decrease, benefiting not only households but also small and medium-sized enterprises. This will reduce the financial burden on households and help increase citizens’ purchasing power, while also supporting the economic development of local communities,” stated Secretary of State Carolina Novac.
It is worth noting that the proposed amendments by the Ministry will also include biogas and wind power plants in the net billing mechanism.
Promoting renewable energy sources through this mechanism will also create new jobs in the installation and maintenance of photovoltaic systems and other green technologies, helping to reduce unemployment and support the social integration of people in rural or disadvantaged areas.
