Creating a supportive marketplace

All eyes are on energy policy, both in Switzerland and internationally. But if over-regulation is not to put hydropower in the shade, the political debate on the future of energy cannot afford to ignore market mechanisms.

Romania

Repower is well positioned in the Romanian marketplace as a quality-conscious, customer-centric provider. Last year the company managed to acquire new customers and increase the volumes of electricity sold. It also optimised its procurement portfolio, raising the number of small independent producers to around 75 per cent and thus reducing its dependence on state-owned producers. Repower sees great potential in marketing energy and certificates on behalf of these independent producers. Romanian producers are obliged to market their electricity directly, which opens up new business models for sales companies like Repower. This contrasts with the situation in Switzerland, for example, where the current regulations completely preclude a marketing model of this sort.

In the course of 2014, Repower Romania developed a new electricity product: Naturepower, which consists of 100 per cent renewable energy, has been on the market since the beginning of 2015. Repower anticipates that around 15 per cent of its existing customers will be prepared to switch from a conventional power mix to the new product. The launch of Naturepower makes Repower the first energy provider in the country to bring a TÜV Rheinland-certified green power product to market.