The National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission (NEURC) should review price caps on the electricity market so that Ukraine can cover the electricity deficit with imports, said Razumkov Centre Energy Programmes Director Volodymyr Omelchenko.
"NEURC must somehow optimize the price caps in peak periods, from 5 PM to 10 PM, to make these import flows commercially interesting," he said.
Omelchenko elaborated that in winter, a situation may arise when the cost of electricity in Ukraine, even in the conditions of its deficit in the energy system, will be lower than in the European Union. Since imports will be commercially unprofitable, Ukraine will not be able to cover the deficit in the energy system.
According to his assessment, in winter the deficit in the system may reach 3 GW, and the bulk of this volume can be covered with imports.
He added that without imports, Ukraine will have to use emergency aid for the energy system.
"It is better to receive the expected volume of imports at lower prices than to take it urgently. Extraordinary flows, extraordinary aid, will cost much more," Omelchenko emphasized.
Earlier, the state-owned enterprise "Market Operator" notified that for full synchronization with the energy market of the European Union, price caps in Ukraine should be set on a par with the European.
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