Rețele Electrice România invested 1.2 billion RON in 2024 in the modernization of electricity distribution networks
Petre Barac
Posted On February 10, 2025
Rețele Electrice România, the electricity distribution operator, part of the PPC group in Romania, has invested approximately 1.2 billion RON in 2024, of which 950 million RON from its own funds and the difference from other sources, in modernization projects in its area of responsibility, with the aim of increasing the resilience of the distribution network. The key projects were implemented in the regions of Muntenia Sud, Banat and Dobrogea and involved the modernization and construction of new transformer stations, along with works for the modernization and extension of underground and overhead power lines.
„We are carrying out large-scale projects throughout the electricity distribution infrastructure, with investments that last year exceeded the threshold of 1.2 billion RON, up 27% from last year. The projects carried out during 2024 aimed at investments in the infrastructure of high, medium and low voltage networks, with the aim of bringing benefits to our customers in the long term. We continue to take relevant steps towards building smart, resilient networks that will meet consumers with solutions adapted to the new realities of the energy transition.” stated Mihai Pește, General Director of Rețele Electrice România.
In brief, the year 2024 meant – one newly built power station, 5 modernized power stations, 4 newly built high voltage lines, 14 modernized high voltage lines, 92 new medium voltage lines, 408 modernized medium voltage lines, 18 new substations, 18 modernized substations, 15 new low voltage lines, 326 modernized low voltage lines. In the digitalization process of the network, 84 new telecontrol points were added. In 2024, 260,000 smart meters were installed following an investment worth 67.6 million RON, thus, the total number of smart meters installed by Rețele Electrice România reached approximately 1.7 million, the highest volume achieved in the electricity distribution system in Romania.
In Bucharest, the most important projects envisaged the modernization of the 110/20/10 kV Filaret and Obor power stations, which will lead to increased supply security and connection capacity in the area, and the modernization of the medium and low voltage electrical networks in the Scarlatescu and Caracas areas, as well as the replacement of underground cables in the area of the Filaret and Vulcan stations, with values amounting to over 82 million RON.
In Ilfov County, projects worth more than 9.1 million RON were carried out for the upgrading of the 110/20/6 kV Solex power station from 25 MVA to 40 MVA, together with the completion of the modernization works of the medium and low voltage electrical networks in Leordeni Street, Popești Leordeni. The works for the conversion of the 110 kV Fundeni-Afumati and Fundeni-CET Brazi power lines from aerial to underground lines, worth approximately 31 million RON, were completed. The works for the construction of a new high voltage line from Otopeni to the Balotești area, where a new power station will be connected, were also started.
In Giurgiu County, the works of centralization and modernization of low-voltage electricity networks were completed in Clejani, Isvoarele, Valea Dragului and Stoenești. The works for the modernization of the low voltage network in Vedea were also started and partially completed, works worth about 18.2 million RON. A project has also been started to improve the safety of operational staff and public safety in general by replacing the wooden poles in the perimeter of Giurgiu County, a project that will be continued in the coming years.
In Constanța County, the main works in 2024 on high-voltage infrastructure amounted to more than 46 million RON and involved works related to the construction and connection of a new power station in the Mamaia Nord area of Constanța County, together with the completion of modernization works for the 110/20 kV Cobadin 110/20 kV power station.
At the same time, the modernization works of low voltage electricity networks worth about 2 million RON have been completed for the localities of Vasilați, Șoldanu in Călărași County and Greci in Tulcea County, together with the modernization of medium voltage power lines in Slobozia, Ialomita County, worth 1.7 million RON. In Călărași County, the first volumes of modernization of the Mănăstirea medium-voltage power line, worth about 8 million RON, were completed.
In Timis County, two important projects for the high-voltage grid, with a total value of over 16.3 million RON, were aimed at the completion of the modernization works of the 110/20 kV IRUM power station and the integration of the 110/20/10 kV Dumbrăvița station into the remote control systems.
In Arad County, investments worth 5.2 million RON were made for the modernization of the 110 kV CET Arad – CFR Șofronea line, together with the modernization of the low voltage electrical networks in the area of two power stations, worth approximately 2.4 million RON.
In Caras-Severin County, works worth 7.5 million RON were completed for the modernization of the electricity networks in Bănia and Bautar and the modernization of the Valiug medium-voltage power line was completed for 2 million RON.
At the same time, works for the modernization of low-voltage electricity networks worth 3.7 million RON were completed in Uricani, Petroșani, Petrila, Hunedoara County. A project has also been started to improve the safety of operational staff and public safety in general by replacing the wooden poles around Hunedoara County, a project that will be continued in the coming years.
Rețele Electrice Romania continues the investment plan in 2025 for its area of responsibility, with the objective of building a modern, digitalized electricity distribution network ready to respond to its customers with solutions adapted to the new realities of the energy transition. In 2025, projects will be started with funding drawn from the POIM and Modernization Fund programs in the three areas, Banat, Dobrogea and South Muntenia, to be completed in the period 2026-2029, worth 1.4 billion RON, of which approx. 340 million RON will be borne from own funds.
Rețele Electrice Romania operates networks with a total length of about 134,000 kilometers in three major areas of the country: Muntenia Sud (including Bucharest), Banat and Dobrogea, covering one third of the local distribution market, and develops an investment program to improve the quality of services, safety and performance of the networks and local implementation of the environmental standards of the PPC group. The electricity networks operated by Rețele Electrice Romania include 289 transformer stations and over 25,000 transformer substations.
