Prosumer contract in Romania — steps, costs, and pitfalls

1. What "the prosumer contract" actually means

In casual conversation "the prosumer contract" sounds like a single document. In reality it's three legal pieces that must exist simultaneously for your solar surplus to be compensated on the bill:

1. Prosumer connection contract — signed with the DSO (the distribution operator: Distribuție Energie Oltenia / Electrica Distribuție / DEER / E-Distribuție etc.). It replaces your old "pure consumer" connection contract.
2. Technical Connection Approval (ATR) — the document by which the DSO confirms that your system can safely connect to the grid. Obtained before installation.
3. Addendum with prosumer clause — a modification to your existing supply contract (with Hidroelectrica / PPC / Premier / ENGIE / Electrica Furnizare etc.) through which the supplier activates net-metering for you.

Legal framework: OUG 163/2022 (Romanian renewables ordinance) + ANRE Order 19/2018 (amended by 35/2024). Applies to any residential installation under 27 kWp. Above 27 kWp you enter the "producer" regime with extra obligations.

2. The 4 actors and what each one does

Actor	Responsibility
You	Provide the data (consumption point, current bill, ownership deed), sign where required
The installer (ANRE-licensed firm)	Drafts the technical project, files the ATR request with the DSO, performs the installation, signs the PIF (commissioning)
The DSO (distribution)	Issues the ATR, replaces the meter with a bidirectional one, signs the prosumer connection contract
The supplier (energy seller)	Signs the addendum, activates net-metering in the billing system

Important: the installer handles the entire process on your behalf if you pick a serious firm. The only papers you sign are the installation agreement, the connection contract, and the addendum. The rest of the paperwork — requests, technical docs, acceptance protocols — is done by the firm.

3. Realistic timeline — week by week

Week	Stage	Who
1–2	Installation contract + technical project (TPC) + ATR request to DSO	Installer
3–6	DSO reviews the request and issues the ATR	DSO
6–7	Actual installation (1–3 days)	Installer
7	Commissioning (PIF) + acceptance protocol	Installer + you
8	Bidirectional meter swap (DSO intervention)	DSO
8	Prosumer connection contract signed	DSO + you
9	Supplier addendum → net-metering active	Supplier + you

Realistic median: 45–60 days from signing the installer contract to the first bill with active compensation. In busy areas (Bucharest, Cluj, Timișoara) it can stretch to 90 days — the DSO has more requests in the queue.

4. Costs — real breakdown

Bureaucracy added on top of the solar system cost:

• ATR request + DSO analysis: 0–250 RON (many DSOs do it for free)
• Bidirectional meter swap: 0 RON (borne by the DSO per OUG 163)
• Technical project signed by an engineer: 800–2,000 RON, usually included in the install quote
• Possible service-line modifications (breaker upgrade, panel additions): 500–3,000 RON, only if the DSO asks

Realistic total "on top of installation": 0–500 RON if your installer bundles everything. Watch out for €9,000 quotes that don't include the ATR or the technical project — then they ask for extras.

5. The 4 compensation models — supplier-side choice

OUG 163/2022 guarantees a minimum 1:1 compensation (kWh injected = kWh consumed at the same tariff). Suppliers can offer better, never worse. Variants seen in 2026:

1. 1:1 with annual carry-over (the OUG 163 default) — monthly surplus rolls month over month for 12 months; whatever remains at the end of the contract year is paid at a buyback price (~0.3–0.5 RON/kWh, below your supply tariff).
2. 1:1 with carry-over + year-end purchase at supply tariff — a few suppliers (Hidroelectrica, Restart) buy your annual surplus at the same tariff they sell at. The best option for you.
3. 1:1 monthly cap — carry-over surplus is capped at your monthly consumption (rare, appears at some legacy suppliers from the CEZ→Premier list).
4. Fixed-price buyback (NOT 1:1) — the supplier buys your surplus at a fixed monthly price (e.g., 0.40 RON/kWh) regardless of your tariff. Avoid if your tariff is above 0.8 RON/kWh.

Before signing the addendum, compare the contract clause to OUG 163 article 5. If the supplier offers less than 1:1 with carry-over, they're legally obliged to offer the minimum anyway — ask them directly.

6. Common mistakes — and how to avoid them

For the full list with concrete numbers on what each one costs, see 5 prosumer mistakes. Here, just the contracting-specific pitfalls:

• Starting installation before the ATR. The costliest. The DSO can reject you at the end if the submitted project differs from what you installed. Solution: ATR ALWAYS before you put panels on the roof.
• Expired or transferring supply contract. The addendum needs an active contract in your name. If you just moved or are switching suppliers, wait 30 days after the new contract is activated.
• Missing acceptance protocol (PIF). The DSO refuses to swap the meter without a PIF signed by the installer. Make sure the installer issues it at the end of the job.
• Switching supplier mid-process. Resets everything — the ATR remains valid, but the addendum has to be redone with the new supplier. Wait at least until net-metering is active.
• Illegal sub-800 W balcony connection. Technically legal up to 800 W production, with no net injection. Above 800 W it's illegal without a contract — see balcony solar panel installation.
• ATR vs ATB vs connection contract confusion. ATR = Technical Connection Approval (before installation). ATB = Technical Connection Branch Approval (rare, for extensions). The connection contract is last, after PIF.

7. Frequently asked questions

Can I do the process myself, without an installer? Technically, yes. Practically, no. The DSO refuses requests submitted by individuals without ANRE certification for the technical project and PIF. The only documents you can sign directly are the ownership and installation agreement.

How long is the ATR valid? 12 months, extendable once by another 12 months. If you delayed installation longer, you redo the request.

What happens if I sell the house? The prosumer contract doesn't transfer. The new owner goes through the whole process from scratch — new ATR, addendum with their supplier. You may run into situations where the sale gets blocked over this; solve it before the sale with a "prosumer termination" addendum to the DSO.

Can I have two prosumer contracts? Yes, but each with a separate consumption point and separate supply contract. Typical for a house + a cabin / workshop.

Can I be a prosumer with an off-grid system? No. By definition, "prosumer" means grid-connected with the possibility of injection. Off-grid systems (battery + isolated inverter) don't fall under OUG 163.

How long until compensation actually shows on the bill? The first bill with active net-metering appears 30–60 days after signing the addendum, with the injected kWh measured by the bidirectional meter.

8. Cross-links — upstream and downstream steps

For full context on the status, see what is a prosumer. For the exact legal definition, see the prosumer definition under OUG 163/2022. For details on the bidirectional meter and what changes technically, read prosumer meter. For the difference between prosumer and producer, see prosumer vs producer.

For precise system sizing, use the calculator. For concrete payback numbers with active net-metering, the payback calculator. Request a quote from verified firms — the installer manages all three contracts on your behalf.