January 15, 2026
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Bulgaria proposes changes to electricity trading rules to include new market participants

The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission of has proposed its amendments to Bulgaria’s electricity trading rules.

The changes aim to align electricity trading rules with recent updates to the country’s Energy Act and a legal and operational framework for new categories of market participants, according to law firm CMS Bulgaria.

New categories include active customers (active buyers), citizen energy communities, self-consumers (prosumers) of electricity from renewable sources, and renewable energy communities.

The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) held a public consultation event today on its draft changes in electricity trading rules. Representatives of the three distribution system operators (DSOs), the Sofia Municipality and the Bulgarian Association for Electrical Engineering and Electronics (BASEL) participated in the discussion.

These changes are designed to encourage electricity production for self-consumption

These changes are designed to encourage electricity production for self-consumption, minimize distribution losses, and foster more predictable energy pricing, a CMS e-alert reads. Furthermore, the amendments would ensure the Bulgarian rules comply with EU law, specifically directives 2018/2001 and 2019/944 and Regulation 2019/943.

The proposed draft introduces several specific provisions to facilitate the participation of the said new entities, CMS stressed.

It explicitly defines how new participants can join the market and the types of contracts they are permitted to conclude.

The new rules allow for the grouping of different sites for joint electricity production or consumption. They also set technical mandates for commercial metering devices, including remote reading capabilities.

The new rules also define calculation of generated, shared and sold electricity

The authors outlined procedures for registering or deregistering participants and groups with network operators. The update would impose an obligation to maintain a public register of these participants.

The proposed rules define the calculation of generated, shared and sold electricity. The framework guarantees that data is exchanged between suppliers, network operators, and group members, ensuring it is reflected in monthly bills.

Stakeholders were invited to submit their proposals from January 8 until January 22, CMS underscored.

Post Views:88
January 14, 2026
by in News

Bulgaria proposes changes to electricity trading rules to include new market participants

The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission of has proposed its amendments to Bulgaria’s electricity trading rules.

The changes aim to align electricity trading rules with recent updates to the country’s Energy Act and a legal and operational framework for new categories of market participants, according to law firm CMS Bulgaria.

New categories include active customers (active buyers), citizen energy communities, self-consumers (prosumers) of electricity from renewable sources, and renewable energy communities.

The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) held a public consultation event today on its draft changes in electricity trading rules. Representatives of the three distribution system operators (DSOs), the Sofia Municipality and the Bulgarian Association for Electrical Engineering and Electronics (BASEL) participated in the discussion.

These changes are designed to encourage electricity production for self-consumption

These changes are designed to encourage electricity production for self-consumption, minimize distribution losses, and foster more predictable energy pricing, a CMS e-alert reads. Furthermore, the amendments would ensure the Bulgarian rules comply with EU law, specifically directives 2018/2001 and 2019/944 and Regulation 2019/943.

The proposed draft introduces several specific provisions to facilitate the participation of the said new entities, CMS stressed.

It explicitly defines how new participants can join the market and the types of contracts they are permitted to conclude.

The new rules allow for the grouping of different sites for joint electricity production or consumption. They also set technical mandates for commercial metering devices, including remote reading capabilities.

The new rules also define calculation of generated, shared and sold electricity

The authors outlined procedures for registering or deregistering participants and groups with network operators. The update would impose an obligation to maintain a public register of these participants.

The proposed rules define the calculation of generated, shared and sold electricity. The framework guarantees that data is exchanged between suppliers, network operators, and group members, ensuring it is reflected in monthly bills.

Stakeholders were invited to submit their proposals from January 8 until January 22, CMS underscored.

Post Views:59
January 7, 2026
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Slovenian DSO registers enormous interest in connecting BESS to distribution grid

Applications for 400 MW have been submitted for the connection of battery energy storage systems to the distribution grid, according to Elektro Ljubljana, one of the distribution system operators in Slovenia.

Slovenia’s distribution system operators (DSOs) are getting an increasing number of requests to connect battery storage systems directly to distribution substations. Notably, in early May, the five Slovenian DSOs fed more electricity into the transmission network than they drew from it for the first time, and for two consecutive days.

Matjaž Osvald, Executive Director of Operation and Development of the Distribution Network in DSO Elektro Ljubljana, pointed out that last summer the company observed increased investor interest in directly connecting batteries to distribution substations.

It issued installation terms for 90 MW, and requests for at least as much are waiting to be processed, he added.

Installation terms were issued for batteries with 90 MW in overall capability

However, the company estimated there could be at least 300 MW more in applications. Due to the technical limitations of existing substations, much less could be connected. Substations in the Elektro Ljubljana area are already overloaded and don’t allow additional connections of larger devices, Osvald explained.

Furthermore, upgrading or constructing new facilities is a lengthy process, he pointed out. Current delivery times for transformers alone are longer than two years, with financing also being an issue.

According to Osvald, batteries would be used to store energy from solar power plants, and three types of investors have emerged. One group wants to install batteries to provide system services for system operators on the European market or for electricity trading.

Three types of investors are submitting applications

The second and third batch aim to bring their projects to a certain stage of development and then sell them – either they would purchase land, obtain permits, and install a battery, or only buy land and obtain permits for energy storage.

Osvald expressed concern about the idea of using batteries solely to provide system services in the European market. In that case, there would be no benefits for the Slovenian distribution network, but it could create problems, he stressed.

Such use would occupy all available connection capacity in substations, which, with increasing electrification, could lead to no spare capacity for other grid users, according to Osvald.

He also pointed to the value of BESS for the distribution network in reducing peak loads and consumption.

Post Views:54
January 7, 2026
by in News

Slovenian DSO registers enormous interest in connecting BESS to distribution grid

Applications for 400 MW have been submitted for the connection of battery energy storage systems to the distribution grid, according to Elektro Ljubljana, one of the distribution system operators in Slovenia.

Slovenia’s distribution system operators (DSOs) are getting an increasing number of requests to connect battery storage systems directly to distribution substations. Notably, in early May, the five Slovenian DSOs fed more electricity into the transmission network than they drew from it for the first time, and for two consecutive days.

Matjaž Osvald, Executive Director of Operation and Development of the Distribution Network in DSO Elektro Ljubljana, pointed out that last summer the company observed increased investor interest in directly connecting batteries to distribution substations.

It issued installation terms for 90 MW, and requests for at least as much are waiting to be processed, he added.

Installation terms were issued for batteries with 90 MW in overall capability

However, the company estimated there could be at least 300 MW more in applications. Due to the technical limitations of existing substations, much less could be connected. Substations in the Elektro Ljubljana area are already overloaded and don’t allow additional connections of larger devices, Osvald explained.

Furthermore, upgrading or constructing new facilities is a lengthy process, he pointed out. Current delivery times for transformers alone are longer than two years, with financing also being an issue.

According to Osvald, batteries would be used to store energy from solar power plants, and three types of investors have emerged. One group wants to install batteries to provide system services for system operators on the European market or for electricity trading.

Three types of investors are submitting applications

The second and third batch aim to bring their projects to a certain stage of development and then sell them – either they would purchase land, obtain permits, and install a battery, or only buy land and obtain permits for energy storage.

Osvald expressed concern about the idea of using batteries solely to provide system services in the European market. In that case, there would be no benefits for the Slovenian distribution network, but it could create problems, he stressed.

Such use would occupy all available connection capacity in substations, which, with increasing electrification, could lead to no spare capacity for other grid users, according to Osvald.

He also pointed to the value of BESS for the distribution network in reducing peak loads and consumption.

Post Views:54
January 4, 2026
by in News

Elektroprivreda BiH to invest EUR 885 million over next three years

Government-controlled power company Elektroprivreda BiH plans to invest BAM 1.73 billion (EUR 884.6 million) over the next three years, according to its 2026-2028 business plan.

The investments would be financed through loans, and BAM 538 million (EUR 275 million) from own funds of Elektroprivreda BiH (EPBiH), which operates in the Federation of BiH. Of note, it is one of the two entities making up Bosnia and Herzegovina. The other one is the Republic of Srpska.

In line with available funds and restructuring plans, the company intends to continue investing in coal mines within the EPBiH group over the three-year period.

The goal is a stable and sustainable coal production at the volume needed for the planned operation of the thermal power plants, the utility said.

The previous business plan, for the 2025-2027 period, provided for investments of BAM 2.1 billion (EUR 1.074 billion).

The three-year period should be marked by the construction of a large number of PV plants

EPBiH has highlighted the construction of new renewable energy power plants as a long-term strategic and priority goal. The construction of several solar power plants at already identified locations are particularly significant, the plan reads.

The upcoming three-year period should be marked by the construction of a large number of PV facilities at multiple locations on mining sites, company-owned land, on the roofs of its own facilities and those of its customers, EPBiH explained.

EPBiH also plans to acquire operational renewable energy facilities as well as projects in development. The plan envisages the purchase or lease of land suitable for the construction of solar power plants.

Positive business performance and maintaining the position as the dominant electricity supplier in BiH are also outlined in the business plan, adopted by the company’s assembly.

Desulfurization and denitrification of flue gases projects are planned for two thermal power plants

EPBiH has launched flue gas desulfurization and denitrification projects for its Tuzla and Kakanj coal-fired power plants. It would also upgrade unit 7 in Kakanj, unit 4 in Tuzla, and the Salakovac hydropower plant.

The document envisages the establishment of the distribution system operator (DSO), based on the provisions of the Law on Electricity of the Federation of BiH. It came into force in August 2023.

The law stipulates unbundling the distribution activity from EPBiH and establishing the DSO as a separate legal entity, a 100%-owned subsidiary, the company underlined.

Post Views:72
January 1, 2026
by in News

Elektroprivreda BiH to invest EUR 885 million over next three years

Government-controlled power company Elektroprivreda BiH plans to invest BAM 1.73 billion (EUR 884.6 million) over the next three years, according to its 2026-2028 business plan.

The investments would be financed through loans, and BAM 538 million (EUR 275 million) from own funds of Elektroprivreda BiH (EPBiH), which operates in the Federation of BiH. Of note, it is one of the two entities making up Bosnia and Herzegovina. The other one is the Republic of Srpska.

In line with available funds and restructuring plans, the company intends to continue investing in coal mines within the EPBiH group over the three-year period.

The goal is a stable and sustainable coal production at the volume needed for the planned operation of the thermal power plants, the utility said.

The previous business plan, for the 2025-2027 period, provided for investments of BAM 2.1 billion (EUR 1.074 billion).

The three-year period should be marked by the construction of a large number of PV plants

EPBiH has highlighted the construction of new renewable energy power plants as a long-term strategic and priority goal. The construction of several solar power plants at already identified locations are particularly significant, the plan reads.

The upcoming three-year period should be marked by the construction of a large number of PV facilities at multiple locations on mining sites, company-owned land, on the roofs of its own facilities and those of its customers, EPBiH explained.

EPBiH also plans to acquire operational renewable energy facilities as well as projects in development. The plan envisages the purchase or lease of land suitable for the construction of solar power plants.

Positive business performance and maintaining the position as the dominant electricity supplier in BiH are also outlined in the business plan, adopted by the company’s assembly.

Desulfurization and denitrification of flue gases projects are planned for two thermal power plants

EPBiH has launched flue gas desulfurization and denitrification projects for its Tuzla and Kakanj coal-fired power plants. It would also upgrade unit 7 in Kakanj, unit 4 in Tuzla, and the Salakovac hydropower plant.

The document envisages the establishment of the distribution system operator (DSO), based on the provisions of the Law on Electricity of the Federation of BiH. It came into force in August 2023.

The law stipulates unbundling the distribution activity from EPBiH and establishing the DSO as a separate legal entity, a 100%-owned subsidiary, the company underlined.

Post Views:60
December 2, 2025
by in News

Slovenia’s TSO ELES joins European Network for Cyber Security

Slovenia’s transmission system operator ELES has joined the European Network for Cyber Security, reinforcing collaborative efforts to protect Europe’s electricity grid from evolving cyber threats.

The partnership will give ELES access to the European Network for Cyber Security’s (ENCS) collaborative threat intelligence, specialist training and technical expertise – strengthening its ability to detect, prevent and respond to cyber incidents targeting high-voltage networks across Slovenia and beyond, ENCS said.

The move comes amid rising pressure on Europe’s grid operators. According to the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity’s ENISA Threat Landscape 2025, operational technology – the backbone of electricity networks – faces an increasing range of cyber threats, with incidents growing in frequency and sophistication.

As nation-state activity intensifies and consumer-connected devices expand the attack surface, coordinated action to protect critical infrastructure has never been more essential, the network underlined.

Nijk: Europe’s power systems are only as strong as their weakest link

Of note, Slovenia started the development in March of a robust cybersecurity framework for the electricity sector, based on an AI system.

“Europe’s power systems are only as strong as their weakest link,” ENCS Managing Director Anjos Nijk stressed.

ELES’s new membership strengthens joint defences and brings valuable regional expertise to the table, he explained. As Slovenia’s grid underpins stability across Central Europe, its participation will help drive the shared strategies and capabilities needed to counter evolving cyber threats, Nijk added.

Rolih: Grid cybersecurity is a team effort

Gorazd Rolih, SOC Manager at ELES, recalled that grid cybersecurity is a team effort.

“Joining ENCS allows us to both contribute to and benefit from Europe-wide collaboration, sharing intelligence, best practices and operational insights that make every member stronger,” he said.

The European Network for Cyber Security is a non-profit membership organisation that brings together critical infrastructure stakeholders and security experts to deploy secure European critical energy grids and infrastructure.

Founded in 2012, ENCS provides cybersecurity solutions and counsel dedicated to the needs of national distribution system operators (DSO), transmission system operators (TSOs) and regulators.

Post Views:44
October 3, 2025
by in News

Croatia’s HEP to install 90 solar power plants on rooftops of its facilities

Croatia’s power utility Hrvatska Elektroprivreda intends to install 90 solar power plants on its facilities across Croatia.

HEP ESCO, a subsidiary of Hrvatska Elektroprivreda (HEP), has launched a public procurement for the installation of 90 photovoltaic plants under a design-and-build model and on a turnkey basis.

The firm develops, implements, and finances energy efficiency projects based on the ESCO model.

The investment is estimated at EUR 5.3 million, and the deadline for submitting bids is November 3.

HEP ESCO plans to sign a contract with the best bidder within 90 days after selecting it. The deadline for the completion of works will be 18 months, according to the public call.

Five groups of solar power plants

The public call is divided into five geographical groups in Croatia.

Group 1 is for Zagreb and its surroundings. Solar panels would be installed at ten locations, with an estimated investment of EUR 1.2 million. Group 2 covers hydropower plants Zavrlje, Orlovac, Peruća, and Zakučaci in the coastal region of Dalmatia, as well as power distribution facilities. The works in the segment are valued at EUR 770,000, local media reported.

Four cities in the region of Slavonia make up the third group, with 20 locations. Solar panels would be installed for EUR 1.21 million in Virovitica, Požega, Vinkovci, and Vukovar.

HEP has over 50 solar power plants on the rooftops of its buildings and facilities

A total of 15 locations in the areas of Međimurje and Zagorje and the Sisak-Moslavina county, and including hydropower plant Ozalj, all in northwestern Croatia, are in the fourth group. The estimated value is EUR 1.1 million.

The value of the investment in Istria, Primorje, and Gorski Kotar is EUR 1.03 million. It entails the Fužine hydropower plant, Rijeka, Vinodol, and electricity distribution facilities.

Of note, HEP has more than 50 solar power plants on the rooftops of its buildings and facilities.

HEP Proizvodnja, HEP’s power production arm, has 12 PV plants on administrative buildings, thermal power plants and hydropower plants. The total capacity is about 1.5 MW. HEP ODS, the country’s distribution system operator, has another 44 solar power plants with a total capacity of 1.1 MW on its roofs.

Post Views:16
July 30, 2025
by in News

Over 20,000 prosumer units connected in Greece in last 18 months

Greece’s distribution system operator HEDNO added more than 20,000 prosumers in the past year and a half, although the new net billing program faces delays.

Last year the government in Athens formally ended the net metering scheme and enacted net billing, aligning with the European Union’s regulations. Any aspiring prosumer with an existing application can switch to the new mechanism for free. The connection charge is EUR 370 per unit.

In the net billing mechanism, the compensation for the prosumer for the electricity delivered to the grid is based on the hourly wholesale price of electricity, instead of a fixed tariff. Projects are limited to a maximum 10.8 kW for households and 100 kW for businesses and energy communities. Virtual billing is also allowed, meaning that production and consumption can be in different locations.

Total capacity almost at 1 GW

According to data from the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO or DEDDIE), more than 20,000 individual prosumer units have been connected to the grid over the last 18 months, with the majority being connected under net metering.

It brought the overall number of prosumer installations to 35,312, with a total capacity of 995 MW, according to the update.

HEDNO also said 705 applications were in the final stages of the licensing process.

Limited interest from suppliers and aggregators

Despite high interest, progress in adding units within the net billing scheme has been slow. Only two electricity suppliers currently provide such contracts to prosumers and just one of them includes businesses, Energypress reported.

There is limited interest among aggregators to represent corporate net billing installations in the market. As for household units, the Renewable Energy Sources Operator and Guarantees of Origin (DAPEEP) provides the service free of charge.

Market participants are urging improvements in the relevant ministerial decree on net billing, for things to move forward. One of them would be to simplify contracts.

Post Views:69
June 3, 2025
by in News

Third Regional Power Sector Exchange in Ohrid: Power grids at core of energy transition

The third Regional Power Sector Exchange of the Western Balkans in Ohrid in North Macedonia gathered over 80 energy professionals from the region to discuss the future of electricity decarbonization and the urgent need to modernize power infrastructure.

Organised under the framework of the Regional Climate Partnership between Germany and the Western Balkans, the conference brought together representatives of transmission and distribution system operators, energy regulators, and energy ministries to accelerate coordinated action toward a greener, more resilient power system.

“No grids, no glory. This slogan captures the challenge in front of us. Without investment in power grids, adaptable regulation, and skilled professionals, the renewable energy transition cannot succeed,” Project Manager at GIZ Nicolas Heger said in his welcoming remarks.

Oberhuber: The Western Balkans have the potential to become a major exporter of clean electricity

Opening addresses were delivered by David Oberhuber, GIZ Country Director in North Macedonia, Anca-Iulia Cimpeanu, European Commission (DG ENER), and Davor Bajs, Energy Community Secretariat.

In his keynote speech, Oberhuber stressed the region’s strategic importance in the Regional Climate Partnership.

The Western Balkans has the potential to become a major exporter of clean electricity to Western Europe and a hub for investment and innovation in renewable energy, he said.

North Macedonia is advancing its energy transition by expanding renewables – solar power capacity reached 506 MW in 2023 – and reducing coal dependency, although thermal power plants still accounted for 47.3% of total electricity production in early 2024.

In 2023, renewables made up 33.15% of electricity generation, with households, transport, and industry as the top energy consumers.

To accelerate the shift, tailored support projects were launched. The Energy, Water Services and Municipal Waste Management Services Regulatory Commission is tackling the surge in renewables applications. Distribution system operator (DSO) EVN is focusing on smart grids and energy quality, and transmission system operator (TSO) MEPSO is exploring options to reduce balancing costs through regional market mechanisms.

Six tailored support projects presented

The event included three sessions on tailored support projects.

Professor Nermin Suljanović presented the project Concept on Data Exchange Between System Operators in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The data platform enables automatic data exchange among all actors in the electricity market in Bosnia and Herzegovina, ensuring data interoperability and harmonized communication interfaces, according to Suljanović.

He also outlined the project Technical Specification and Requirements for Integration of Renewables into DSO Telecommunication Network.

E-mobility is not only related to energy but also to transportation, telecommunication, data security

A project titled Procedure for Handling RES Connection Requests to the Grid – Queue Management was presented by expert Miltos Aslanoglou, and the Roadmap for Creating a Legal and Regulatory Framework for EV Charging by expert Dejan Stojadinović.

“EU legislation on this matter is a good base for the Western Balkan countries to prepare relevant legal and regulatory frameworks. E-mobility is not only related to energy but also to transportation, telecommunication, data security, and other issues,” Stojadinović said.

Goran Majstrović, Deputy Director and Head of the Energy Transmission and Distribution Department at Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar (EIHP), gave an insight into the project Feasibility Analysis and Funding Assessment for using Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) on the Kosovo* Transmission Grid.

Simplification of Procedures for Prosumer Connection to the Distribution Network in the Federation of BiH was the name of the project introduced by expert Goran Dobrić.

The need for regionally integrated networks has never been greater

Blackouts in both Southern and Southeastern Europe have highlighted vulnerabilities in grid infrastructure amidst growing shares of renewable energy. The need for modern, flexible, and regionally integrated networks has never been greater.

The event was part of a wider regional project implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German government, supporting the integration of renewables and enhancing energy security across the WB6.

In just two years, the project has supported over 30 institutions, trained more than 135 energy professionals, and facilitated the development of the Action Plan for Power Grids in the Western Balkans, in cooperation with the Energy Community Secretariat.

Network redesigns are lagging behind renewables by seven to ten years

Goran Majstrović from Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar presented the Action Plan for Power Grids in the Western Balkans.

“The path to integration of renewables is not just replacing power plants but redesigning the entire system to accommodate them. Network redesigns are lagging behind renewables by seven to ten years,” he asserted.

In the plan, the required grid investments by 2030 in the six countries of the Western Balkans (WB6) are estimated at EUR 10 billion to EUR 14 billion. Investments in primary equipment are seen at EUR 6 billion to EUR 8 billion. As for secondary equipment (digitalization), the forecasted tally is EUR 4 billion to EUR 6 billion.

Phase 2 of the project Green Agenda: Decarbonisation of the Electricity Sector in the Western Balkans is scheduled for completion in 2028. The Regional Power Sector Exchange will remain a key platform for cooperation, helping ensure the energy transition in the region is just and inclusive.

Post Views:167
* This designation is without prejudice to positions onstatus and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
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