The operational procedures of the Moldovan Energy Market Operator, OPEM, have been approved and entered into force today. Previously, these procedures were subject to public consultations and were endorsed by the National Energy Regulatory Agency.

These procedures pertain to the implementation of the Day-Ahead Market (DAM) and the Intraday Market (IDM), which will enable hourly electricity trading, including electricity from renewable sources.

The two procedures establish the rules for price formation and short-term electricity trading mechanisms, ensuring a transparent and competitive framework for buying and selling electricity. They also facilitate real-time adjustments of market participants' energy portfolios, contributing to greater flexibility and efficiency of the energy system.

"Operatorul Pieței de Energie M" SRL (OPEM), a subsidiary of SA "OPCOM" from Romania, was designated as the electricity market operator of the Republic of Moldova through a government decision at the beginning of 2024.

It is worth recalling that in March 2022, Moldova and Ukraine synchronized their energy systems with the continental ENTSO-E network. The coupling of energy markets, along with the construction of new transmission lines, will facilitate integration into the European energy market.

According to the provisions of the Electricity Law, the electricity market consists of the bilateral contracts market and organized electricity markets, including the Day-Ahead Market (DAM), the Intraday Market (IDM), the balancing electricity market, and the ancillary services market. In Moldova, 84 companies hold electricity supply licenses, but only two suppliers currently operate in the competitive market, with market shares of 0.14% and 0.34%, respectively. Following the launch of OPEM, the share of the free electricity market is expected to grow significantly.

More details about the electricity market can be found at the links below:

• Day-Ahead Market – Registration, Framework Contract, Procedures
• Intraday Market – Registration, Framework Contract, Procedures