Romania's Electricity Prices Surge in August, Doubling Year-on-Year
Romania's average electricity price on the DAM rose to RON 793 per MWh in August, marking a 25% increase from July and more than doubling from August 2025. The Cernavodă nuclear plant's limited operation and low Danube flow contributed to reduced hydropower output. Romania ranked as the 6th most expensive EU market for electricity in August. The increased reliance on gas and coal plants, along with costly imports, drove up prices. Household electricity rates may face upward pressure due to these trends.
Arhivă
Romania's electricity market experienced a steep increase in prices in August, with the average cost on the Day-Ahead Market (DAM) reaching RON 793 (EUR 150) per megawatt-hour. This represents a 25% rise from the previous month, according to data compiled by Economica.net, Profit.ro, OPCOM, and ENTSO-E. Compared to August 2025, when the price stood at RON 396 per MWh, the cost has more than doubled.
The surge in electricity prices is attributed to several factors, notably the operational constraints at the Cernavodă nuclear plant. The facility ran only one unit for 13 days in August and was shut down for the remainder of the month due to insufficient water flow in the Danube, which is necessary for reactor cooling. The lack of water significantly reduced hydropower production. This further strained supply.
Romania's current battery storage capacity of 2,300 MWh is inadequate to meet the peak evening demand. The country must rely on substantial and expensive electricity imports during these periods. The increased dependence on gas and coal power plants has also contributed to the rise in average prices.
In August, Romania's spot electricity price was ranked as the 6th highest among the European Union's most expensive markets, trailing behind countries such as Ireland, Hungary, Slovenia, and Croatia. Prices in Slovakia and Austria were slightly lower, suggesting a regional supply deficit possibly linked to Danube water levels.
Year-to-date figures show Romania holding the 4th position in the EU for the highest spot price, with an average of EUR 120 per MWh, following Italy, Ireland, and Hungary. This trend highlights ongoing generation and transmission constraints in Central Europe.
The commodity component of end-user prices currently accounts for about 50% of the total cost. The remaining portion includes transmission and distribution fees as well as taxes.
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