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Glossary — connections & grid terms

ATR, DIU, BMPM, prosumer, connection tariff… Every term you will meet while connecting a property to the grid in Romania, explained briefly and clearly.

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ATR (Aviz Tehnic de Racordare / Technical Connection Approval): The ATR is the official approval through which the grid operator — Rețele Electrice România S.A. (formerly E-Distribuție/Enel) in the Bucharest–Ilfov–Giurgiu area — agrees to connect a property to the electricity network. It specifies the approved power, the technical connection solution and the connection tariff you will pay. The ATR is issued after you file a connection application with property documents, within deadlines regulated by ANRE, and is mandatory before any connection works can start. Professional help with the ATR file starts from 350 lei. our ATR assistance service.
DIU (Dosarul Instalației de Utilizare / User Installation Dossier): The DIU (Dosarul Instalației de Utilizare) is the technical file documenting the electrical installation inside a property, prepared and signed by an ANRE-authorised electrician. It typically contains the single-line diagram, earthing and PRAM measurement reports, and the installer's declaration of conformity. Rețele Electrice România S.A. requires the DIU before energising a new connection, after a power increase, or when reconnecting a long-disconnected property. The owner pays for it; a complete DIU prepared by an attested firm starts from 1,200 lei. our DIU preparation service.
Electrical Service Connection (Branșament electric): A branșament electric is the physical service connection — overhead or underground — that links a property to the public distribution grid, ending at the metering point. It includes the conductors or cable, the supports or protective tubing, and the connection cabinet housing the meter and main breaker. The works are executed by an ANRE-attested contractor, and the finished branșament is taken over and operated by Rețele Electrice România S.A. A single-phase residential connection starts from 1,800 lei; three-phase from 2,900 lei. estimate your connection cost.
Grid Connection (Racordare la rețea): Racordare la rețea is the complete administrative and technical process of connecting a consumer to the electricity distribution network. It covers the connection application, issuance of the ATR by Rețele Electrice România S.A., signing the connection contract and paying the connection tariff, execution of the branșament by an attested firm, and final energisation with meter installation. The applicant funds the process, and overall duration varies with the complexity of the network solution. A complete connection file service starts from 900 lei. our grid connection service.
Connection Cabinet (Firidă de branșament): The firidă de branșament is the recessed niche or street-side cabinet, usually built into the fence or facade at the property boundary, that houses the metering and protection block (BMPM or BMPT) at the end of the electrical service connection. Its type, dimensions and position are specified in the ATR, and it must remain permanently accessible to Rețele Electrice România S.A. for meter reading, sealing and maintenance. The customer purchases and installs it through an ANRE-attested electrician. connection cabinet installation service.
BMPM (Single-Phase Metering and Protection Block): The BMPM (Bloc de Măsură și Protecție Monofazat) is the single-phase metering and protection block used on residential connections at 230 V, typically up to about 11 kW. Mounted in the firidă at the property boundary, it houses the electricity meter and the main circuit breaker, whose rating is fixed by the ATR. Only Rețele Electrice România S.A. may seal and unseal the metering compartment. A standard single-phase branșament, including supply and fitting of the BMPM, starts from 1,800 lei. single-phase connection service.
BMPT (Three-Phase Metering and Protection Block): The BMPT (Bloc de Măsură și Protecție Trifazat) is the three-phase equivalent of the BMPM: a sealed block containing the meter and main breaker for 400 V three-phase connections. It is the standard solution for larger homes, heat pumps, EV chargers, workshops and small businesses needing more than about 11 kW. The breaker is sized to the power approved in the ATR, and the metering section is sealed by Rețele Electrice România S.A. A three-phase connection with BMPT starts from 2,900 lei. three-phase connection service.
Connection Tariff (Tarif de racordare): The tarif de racordare is the regulated fee an applicant pays the grid operator for the works needed to connect a property to the public network. Rețele Electrice România S.A. calculates it using the ANRE-approved methodology and states the exact amount in the ATR; it depends on the approved power, connection type and distance to the nearest suitable network point. It covers only the operator's side of the works — the customer separately contracts the user installation. Paying it is a precondition for signing the connection contract. see our full price list.
Urban Planning Certificate (Certificat de urbanism): The certificat de urbanism is an informative document issued by the local city hall (primărie) describing the legal, technical and planning conditions that apply to a plot, including how utilities may be connected. For electricity connections it is mainly required when the branșament involves a grid extension, crossing public land or excavation in the street; many simple connections do not need one. It is issued to the applicant for a small local fee and does not by itself authorise any construction works. new house connection service.
Notarised Power of Attorney (Procură notarială): A procură notarială is a power of attorney authenticated by a notary public that lets a trusted person or a specialised firm handle the entire connection process on the owner's behalf — filing the ATR application, signing the connection contract with Rețele Electrice România S.A. and the supply contract, and collecting documents. It is the key instrument for Romanians living abroad: it can be drawn up at any Romanian notary or at a Romanian consulate, and the owner pays the notary fee. connection from abroad service.
Prosumer (Prosumator): A prosumer is an electricity consumer who also generates power — typically from rooftop photovoltaic panels — and injects the surplus into the public grid. In Romania the status is regulated by ANRE and requires a connection certificate (certificat de racordare) from the distribution operator, Rețele Electrice România S.A. in the București–Ilfov and Muntenia areas, plus a bidirectional smart meter. Surplus energy is offset against consumption through quantitative compensation on the supplier's invoice. our prosumer connection service.
kW vs kVA: kW (kilowatts) measure real power — the energy your appliances actually consume — while kVA (kilovolt-amperes) measure apparent power, which also includes the reactive component. Romanian connection documents such as the ATR (Aviz Tehnic de Racordare) state the approved power in kVA or kW; for typical homes the two values are nearly equal because the power factor is close to 1. The approved power determines the connection type (single- or three-phase) and the connection tariff charged by Rețele Electrice România S.A. our connection cost calculator.
Single-phase connection (Branșament monofazat): A single-phase connection (branșament monofazat) links a property to the low-voltage grid through one phase and a neutral, at 230 V, typically for approved powers up to about 11 kW. It is the standard solution for apartments and smaller houses without heavy three-phase equipment. The works are executed by an ANRE-certified contractor based on the ATR issued by Rețele Electrice România S.A., with installation costs from 1,800 lei depending on length and routing (overhead or underground). our single-phase connection service.
Three-phase connection (Branșament trifazat): A three-phase connection (branșament trifazat) supplies a property through three phases and a neutral at 400 V, supporting higher approved powers and balanced loads for heat pumps, EV chargers, workshops and commercial premises. It is generally recommended above roughly 11 kW or where three-phase motors are used. Rețele Electrice România S.A. sets the technical solution in the ATR, and execution by an ANRE-certified contractor starts from 2,900 lei; an existing single-phase service can later be converted to three-phase. our three-phase connection service.
LEA (Linie Electrică Aeriană / overhead power line): LEA is the Romanian abbreviation for an overhead power line — conductors mounted on poles, the most common way low-voltage distribution reaches streets in Ilfov, Giurgiu and peri-urban Bucharest. An overhead service connection (branșament aerian) drops from the nearest pole to the building using twisted insulated cable, making it usually the fastest and most affordable connection type. The pole-to-meter section belongs to the distribution operator, Rețele Electrice România S.A., which approves the solution through the ATR. our overhead connection service.
LES (Linie Electrică Subterană / underground power line): LES is the Romanian abbreviation for an underground power line — cables buried in trenches, standard in central Bucharest and in new residential developments where overhead lines are not permitted. An underground service connection (branșament subteran) requires trenching, sand bedding, warning tape and sometimes road-crossing permits, so it costs more and takes longer than an overhead one. The route and cable type are fixed by Rețele Electrice România S.A. in the ATR, and the applicant pays for the connection works. our underground connection service.
Transformer station (Post de transformare / PT): A transformer station (post de transformare, PT) steps medium voltage (typically 20 kV) down to the 400/230 V used by end consumers, housing the transformer, switchgear and protections. Large consumers — residential compounds, industrial halls, big commercial sites — often need their own PT when the requested power exceeds what the local low-voltage network can deliver. The need is established by Rețele Electrice România S.A. through the ATR, and the beneficiary typically funds design and construction by an ANRE-certified contractor. our transformer station services.
Grid extension (Extindere de rețea): A grid extension (extindere de rețea) means building new distribution infrastructure — poles, lines or underground cables — to reach a property located beyond the existing network, common for plots on new streets or land newly opened for development. Rețele Electrice România S.A. defines the extension in the ATR as part of the connection solution; depending on the legal framework, costs may be shared between the operator and the applicant, and works require an ANRE-certified contractor plus local permits. our grid extension service.
Energisation (Punere sub tensiune / PIF): Energisation (punere sub tensiune, often called PIF — punere în funcțiune) is the final step of the connection process, when Rețele Electrice România S.A. connects the new service to the live grid and the meter starts recording. It happens only after the works are completed, the utilisation installation file (dosar DIU) is submitted, the connection certificate (certificat de racordare) is issued, and the customer has a signed electricity supply contract. From this moment the installation is officially powered and consumption is billed by the chosen supplier. full grid connection service.
Power increase (Spor de putere): A power increase (spor de putere) is the procedure for raising the approved power of an existing connection — needed when adding a heat pump, EV charger, electric heating or new equipment that trips the main breaker. The application is filed with Rețele Electrice România S.A., which issues an updated ATR; minor increases may only require paperwork, while larger ones can involve reinforcing the service cable or switching to three-phase. Specialist assistance with the file starts from 350 lei. our power increase service.
Consumer Installation (Instalație de utilizare): The electrical installation downstream of the metering and delimitation point — wiring, circuits, distribution boards and earthing — owned and maintained by the consumer, in contrast to the branșament (service connection), which belongs to the grid operator Rețele Electrice România S.A. It must be executed by ANRE-authorised electricians, and its technical file (DIU – Dosarul Instalației de Utilizare) must be submitted to the operator before a new or modified installation can be energised. our DIU documentation service.
Earthing System (Priză de pământ): The buried electrode system — rods, strip or plate conductors — that connects an electrical installation to the ground, giving fault currents and lightning discharge a safe, low-resistance path. Romanian norms require a dispersion resistance below 4 ohms for consumer installations, or 1 ohm where the electrode also serves the lightning protection system. Its value must be verified with calibrated instruments by an ANRE-authorised electrician, and the resulting measurement report is required for the DIU file and energisation. our earthing installation service.
PRAM Measurements (Măsurători PRAM): PRAM stands for Protecții, Relee, Automatizări, Măsurători — the standardised testing of an installation's protective systems: earth electrode resistance, insulation resistance, continuity of protective conductors and RCD operation. The results are issued as a dated report (buletin PRAM) by an ANRE-authorised electrician or laboratory using calibrated instruments. A valid PRAM report is required for the DIU file and for energising a new connection, and companies must repeat the measurements periodically under labour-safety regulations. our PRAM measurement service.
ANRE (Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority): Autoritatea Națională de Reglementare în Domeniul Energiei — Romania's National Energy Regulatory Authority. ANRE licenses suppliers and distribution operators, approves connection tariffs, issues the regulations governing ATR and DIU procedures, and authorises the electricians and contractors allowed to work on electrical installations. Any firm executing service connections must hold a valid ANRE attestation — SUN WATT holds attestation no. 19761. Consumers can also complain to ANRE about a distributor or supplier free of charge. our ANRE-attested installation services.
Rețele Electrice România S.A. (formerly E-Distribuție / Enel): The electricity distribution operator for București, Ilfov, Giurgiu and much of southern and western Romania — the former E-Distribuție (Enel) networks, renamed after the PPC acquisition. It owns and operates the low- and medium-voltage grid, issues the ATR (Aviz Tehnic de Racordare), signs connection contracts, builds or commissions the service connection and installs the meter. Applications are filed through its online portal. It is distinct from electricity suppliers, which only sell and bill the energy. our ATR assistance service.
Supplier vs Distributor (Furnizor vs distribuitor de energie): Two distinct roles in Romania's electricity market. The distributor (distribuitor — e.g., Rețele Electrice România S.A.) owns the physical grid, executes connections, operates meters and fixes outages; it cannot be chosen, being fixed by geography. The supplier (furnizor — Hidroelectrica, PPC Energie, E.ON and others) buys energy and invoices you, and can be switched freely. Connection paperwork — ATR, connection contract — is always handled with the distributor; the supply contract required before energisation is signed with the supplier. our grid connection service.
Connection Contract (Contract de racordare): The contract concluded between the applicant and the distribution operator (Rețele Electrice România S.A.) after the ATR is issued. It defines the connection works, the connection tariff and the parties' obligations. The applicant pays the tariff set by the operator's methodology; works on the public grid are carried out by the operator or its certified contractors, while the consumer's own installation can be built by any ANRE-attested firm. Energisation follows reception of the works and submission of the DIU. our new house connection service.
Approved Power vs Installed Power (Putere aprobată vs putere instalată): Installed power (putere instalată) is the sum of the rated power of all appliances in an installation. Approved power (putere aprobată) is the maximum simultaneous demand the operator authorises in the ATR — usually lower, since not everything runs at once. Approved power dictates the sizing of the connection, and smart meters can enforce it as a limit. Adding a heat pump, EV charger or workshop equipment typically requires a power increase (spor de putere) approved by Rețele Electrice România S.A. our power increase service.
Temporary Site Connection (Branșament provizoriu / organizare de șantier): A time-limited connection approved for construction sites (organizare de șantier), powering tools, cranes and site cabins before the permanent connection exists. It follows the standard ATR procedure with Rețele Electrice România S.A., but the approval is tied to the validity of the building permit, with its own meter and a site distribution board with RCD protection. When construction ends, the temporary connection is dismantled or converted into the definitive one through a new application. our temporary site connection service.
Smart Meter (Contor inteligent): An electronic meter with two-way remote communication, installed and owned by the distribution operator (Rețele Electrice România S.A.) at no direct cost to the consumer, under its national rollout programme. It transmits readings automatically — ending estimated bills — records load curves, can enforce the approved power limit, and supports remote disconnection and reconnection. For prosumers it is mandatory, as it measures both the energy drawn from and the energy injected into the grid for billing compensation. our prosumer connection service.

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