New report: With the right regulatory support, consumers could play an important role in South East and Eastern Europe’s energy transition
Active consumers are already emerging across the region, but uneven rules and limited market access are holding back full participation, according to a new Energy Community Regulatory Board report.
Active consumers could become a key part of South East and Eastern Europe’s energy transition as the Energy Community region works to deliver on its commitment to integrate with increasingly decarbonised EU energy markets. By shifting when and how they consume electricity and store and generate renewable power, these consumers can help integrate more renewables, reduce system costs, and support more efficient use of existing grids. Because of this, according to a new Energy Community Regulatory Board (ECRB) report, regulators across the region see active customers as an increasingly important tool for strengthening security of supply. Yet while their potential is clear, the report finds that regulatory frameworks must adapt if these benefits are to be fully unlocked.
The rise in active or renewables self-consumers is notable across the region.
In Albania and Serbia, the number of active or renewable self-consumers more than doubled between 2023 and 2025, while in Moldova and Ukraine it rose by over 50%, with Ukraine’s installed capacity increasing from 1,820 MW to 2,678 MW. Regulatory frameworks to support their participation are also beginning to emerge. Six out of nine Energy Community Contracting Parties have already included the definition of active customers in their core electricity legislation, signalling a shift towards a more consumer-driven energy system.
A detailed regulatory framework needed to make active consumers’ participation in electricity markets both practical and economically attractive is still under development across the Energy Community Region. The newly published ECRB report provides concrete suggestions to address this, including simpler grid connection procedures and better access to smart meter data, which would make it easier for consumers to participate in electricity markets and contribute to the flexibility of the energy system. In addition, pricing should better reflect when electricity is used, including through time-based tariffs and dynamic contracts, to encourage consumption when electricity is abundant and reduce pressure on the system during peak demand.