In the first quarter of 2026, Romania has demonstrated a notable increase in electricity production despite a decrease in consumption. The National Institute for Statistics (INS) reported that total electricity consumption reached 12.82 TWh, reflecting a 2.2% drop compared to the same quarter in 2025.
Breaking down the consumption figures, industrial usage held relatively steady at 9.85 TWh, with only a slight year-on-year decline of 0.1%. However, household electricity consumption saw a more pronounced reduction, falling to 2.86 TWh, which represents a significant 9.2% decrease. Conversely, public lighting consumption experienced growth, increasing by 5.3% to approximately 115.1 GWh.
On the production side, Romania’s total electricity generation reached 14.37 TWh, marking an impressive increase of 8.8% from the previous year. This rise in output was driven largely by a substantial boost in hydropower generation, which surged by 38.3% to 3.77 TWh. In contrast, thermal power production saw a decline of 3%, totaling 5.05 TWh.
The performance of renewable energy sources also contributed positively to the overall production landscape. Wind energy generation increased by 18%, reaching 1.9 TWh, while solar power production—including contributions from prosumers—grew by 10.17% to 774.1 GWh. Meanwhile, output from the Cernavodă nuclear power plant saw a slight decrease of 3%, amounting to 2.86 TWh.
In terms of international trade, Romania’s electricity exports rose significantly by 13.9%, reaching 3.66 TWh, while imports fell by 15.4% to 3.84 TWh. This shift indicates a narrowing gap between domestic electricity production and external supply sources.
The primary energy sector also faced challenges, with total production declining by 2.3% compared to last year, totaling 4,116 million tons of oil equivalent. Notably, coal production experienced a sharp decline of 22.7%, and oil output decreased by 8.3%, alongside a modest drop in natural gas production of 1.5%.
This data underscores the evolving dynamics within Romania’s energy landscape as it navigates shifts in consumption patterns and enhances its production capabilities across various sources.
