Italy remained the most expensive electricity market in the SEE comparison in Week 24, even as its day-ahead price declined. The Italian weekly average stood at €123.17/MWh, down 3.8% from the previous week, but still far above Greece at €91.53/MWh, Croatia at €92.02/MWh, Serbia at €78.22/MWh and Türkiye at €22.85/MWh.
The premium reflects Italy’s structural role as the region’s main demand sink. Italian electricity demand rose by 319.8 GWh, or 6.7%, to 5.12 TWh, the largest absolute increase among the analysed SEE markets. That demand growth translated directly into higher reliance on external supply. Italy’s net imports increased by 130.9 GWh, or 13.8%, reaching 1.08 TWh for the week.
Domestic generation also responded. Italy posted the largest increase in total thermal output in the region, rising by 191.1 GWh, or 17.6%, supported by both coal and gas-fired generation. This is an important price signal because Italy’s high-load structure means renewable gains alone are often insufficient to remove thermal generation from the margin.
The gas side reinforced the same story. LNG flows into Italy recovered sharply to 3,803.52 GWh, up 34.11% from the previous week. Italy also stood out as one of the most attractive European destinations for LNG cargoes because of its regasification economics and regional price signals.
For SEE power exporters, Italy remains the anchor market. Higher Italian demand, stronger imports and elevated clearing prices keep regional spreads alive, particularly when renewable output rises in neighbouring systems. Italy’s price premium is not only a domestic supply issue; it is the commercial centre around which cross-border SEE flows continue to form.
