Industry federations representing heavy electricity consumers in Greece (EVIKEN), Bulgaria (BFIEC), and Romania (ACER) have accused Austria of violating EU regulations by limiting electricity exports to southeastern European countries. This action has reportedly led to increased electricity prices in the region.
In a letter to European Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera, Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen, and the energy ministers of the three countries, the federations argue that Austria is failing to comply with an EU rule requiring at least 70% of cross-border transmission capacity to be available for international trade.
Since 2020, Austria has repeatedly obtained exemptions from this rule, citing concerns about network reliability. This has resulted in Austria prioritizing domestic electricity supply, reducing exports to neighboring countries and impacting regional energy costs.
The complaint comes shortly after the EU established a new task force to improve coordination of electricity exchanges across central and southern Europe. The task force, which includes representatives from governments, network operators, and regulators, identified opportunities to reduce transmission bottlenecks and enhance market stability.
