The Croatian Energy Regulatory Agency (HERA) has approved a new set of electricity transmission and distribution fees that will take effect on 1 January 2026. The revised charges were adopted as part of HERA’s statutory role under the Electricity Market Act, aimed at regulating network fees and ensuring the stability of the domestic energy system.
The adjustments come in response to ongoing disruptions in the domestic energy market, which allowed network operators to apply for higher fees in 2026. Under this regulatory framework, the transmission system operator HOPS was permitted to request an increase of up to 10%, while the distribution operator HEP ODS could seek a rise of up to 15%. Both operators submitted their applications at the end of September 2025, following the prescribed methodology. HEP ODS opted for the full 15% increase, and HOPS requested the maximum 10% adjustment. The regulator approved both proposals, citing rising wholesale electricity prices and higher costs for materials and construction works.
According to HERA, the previous fees no longer fully cover the justified costs of operating and maintaining the network, creating potential risks for investment levels, network development, and the overall pace of the energy transition. With the new fee structure, network usage charges will rise across all customer categories and tariff models, with an average increase of 13.5%. For a typical household under the standard tariff, consuming approximately 3,105 kWh per year, the network fee will rise from 5.34 to 6.06 eurocents/kWh. This translates to an annual increase from roughly 166 euros to 188 euros, or about 22 euros more per year, equivalent to around 1.8 euros per month.
In addition to residential fees, HERA has introduced updated network charges for electricity producers holding a valid generation license. Under Croatian law, licensed producers must pay for the use of the transmission or distribution network for electricity fed into the system. Producers connected to the transmission network pay HOPS, while those linked to the distribution network pay HEP ODS. This producer-side fee is applied through a new G-tariff, which charges electricity generated and injected into the network. HOPS proposed a charge of 0.39 euros/MWh, while HEP ODS set its fee at 0.42 euros/MWh. Both levels remain below the European regulatory cap of 0.5 euros/MWh, as set under EU Regulation 838/2010.
The new fee adjustments mark a significant step in ensuring financial sustainability for network operators while balancing the need for continued investment in energy infrastructure and the transition to a more resilient and sustainable electricity system.
