“At Transelectrica, we want to maintain control — and I am not referring to state control over energy production activities — but to the fact that in energy systems, it is extremely important to control what happens in the grid and manage phenomena as they arise.

The blackout in Spain started from a loss of control over voltage levels in the grid. This phenomenon occurs predominantly when electricity consumption is very low, as it was during the Easter period. Certain events in the energy chain are very difficult to manage, and therefore we, as system operators, must have the levers to intervene,” stated Virgiliu Ivan, Director of the National Energy Dispatcher at Transelectrica, during the Cybersecurity in Energy Forum organized by Distributie Energie Electrica Romania.

“It is very important to modify the legislation in the field of public procurement and sectoral procurement. Procedures are so complicated that, from the moment you want to acquire something — especially in the area of cybersecurity — it may take up to a year to obtain it.

When it comes to cybersecurity, it is simply not acceptable to lose so much time because of a procurement procedure. We must act, otherwise we will remain vulnerable.

Cybersecurity equipment is becoming increasingly costly — we need to acknowledge this. Prices are going up, and their share in the electricity bill will continue to increase.

Their lifespan is quite short, only 3–5 years, after which they must be replaced. At Transelectrica, we have very expensive equipment. We need a very rapid modernization cycle. That is why it is crucial for all of us to secure as much European funding as possible for this sector.”