Delgaz Grid, the distribution company of the E.ON Group in Romania, made investments last year exceeding 1.2 billion lei (approximately 241 million euros) in the natural gas and electricity distribution grids. For the current year, it has planned a record amount of 1.4 billion lei (282 million euros), which is 17% more than in 2025.
Funded from own sources and attracted European funds, the investments made in 2025 were over 165% higher than the average annual value from the 2010-2019 period (when they were around 90 million euros/year).
Natural Gas Distribution Investments
Investments in natural gas distribution exceeded 538 million lei (107 million euros), with 448 km of pipelines and gas connections modernized. The distribution network was expanded by 253 km, connecting 31,000 new consumers. Additionally, in partnership with local authorities, natural gas distribution systems were established in 7 localities in Sibiu, Timiș, and Bacău counties, totaling 84 kilometers.
Six natural gas regulation-measurement stations were modernized—in Bacău, Caraș-Severin, Hunedoara, and Iași counties—which improved the quality of the distribution service for consumers in the served areas.
Green Gas Pilot Projects
Last year, Delgaz Grid launched three pioneering pilot projects in the green gases field: BioMethaneMix (aiming to produce biomethane and inject it into distribution networks/user installations), BlendUp30 (testing the operation of natural gas distribution network equipment and existing user appliances with hydrogen-natural gas blends of 23% and 30%), and HyGrid100 (using 100% hydrogen on a natural gas network section and new user appliances).
Electricity Distribution Investments
On the electricity segment, investments totaled 674 million lei (134 million euros), with the distribution network modernized over 1,405 km and expanded by 720 km. Approximately 36,500 new users were connected, including 22,000 consumers and 14,500 prosumers.
Last year, the ADMS (Advanced Distribution Management System) project was completed with an investment of 84 million lei, of which 61 million lei was European funding. ADMS integrates into a single digital platform the functionalities needed for operational command processes, scheduling, and planning of high-, medium-, and low-voltage electricity distribution networks, down to the consumer level.
Smart Metering Progress
At the end of 2025, 586,000 SMART meters were already installed (about 80,000 installed last year), of which 525,000 are also integrated into the smart metering system (SMI). The MDM/MDC digital platform (Measurement Data Management/Data Collection Management), with a capacity to integrate 1.6 million meters, provides support for SMI.
Currently, 124 of the 130 transformer stations operated by Delgaz Grid are integrated into SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), as well as 688 automated urban transformer posts (70 of them in 2025). Additionally, over 2,031 remote-controlled devices integrated into SCADA (sectionalizers and reclosers) are installed in medium-voltage overhead networks, 121 of them last year.
2026 Investments
For the current year, Delgaz Grid has set a record investment target of 1.42 billion lei (282 million euros) from own sources and EU funds, 17% more than in 2025.
Natural Gas Plans
Natural gas investments are projected to exceed 544 million lei (108 million euros). Natural gas pipelines and connections will be modernized over 627 km. Additionally, for service quality improvement, 15 regulation-measurement stations will be modernized. Developing the natural gas distribution system and connecting new consumers is another priority, with funds allocated for network expansion by over 223 km this year.
Electricity Plans
Electricity investments are planned at 877 million lei (174 million euros), 26% more than the previous year. The investments focus on continuing the automation and digitalization of the distribution system, SMART metering, modernizing overhead networks, transformer stations and posts, expanding the distribution network for new consumer connections, and increasing network capacity to accommodate energy from renewable sources.
EU-Funded Projects
Currently, 15 projects worth a total of 436 million euros are underway, including 325 million euros in European funding. The projects target SMART metering, transformer station modernizations, new station constructions, and network upgrades across all voltage levels.
One of the most important projects, launched at the beginning of the year, is the electricity supply for the future Iași Regional Emergency Hospital (SRU), a medical facility serving residents of Romania’s North-East Region. The investment value is approximately 145 million lei (29 million euros), with about 120 million lei (24 million euros) in non-reimbursable European funding.
Another major network development project, with the funding contract signing expected mid-year, is the CARMEN project, run in partnership with Transelectrica and ESO (Bulgaria’s transmission operator). The total value is 210 million euros, including 104 million euros in European funding. Delgaz Grid’s component is 79 million euros, with approximately 40 million euros as grant.
Smart Metering Goals
The installation of about 120,000 SMART meters is planned, targeting 85% smart metering coverage by 2030.