The Intelligent Energy Association, together with its partner ENGIE Romania, is implementing the 11th edition of the “Energy for Life” project, which will provide access to electricity for 26 households in remote areas across nine hamlets in Gorj, Mehedinți and Vâlcea counties through the installation of photovoltaic systems.
The first phase of the project has already been completed, with 10 households in Gorj County receiving access to electricity. The beneficiary homes had never been connected to the electricity grid and had no realistic prospects of being connected in the near future.
According to the National Electronic Register of Households Without Access to Electricity in Romania (RENGEER), compiled in April 2024, there are 47 permanently inhabited households without electricity in Gorj County, 32 in Mehedinți County and seven in Vâlcea County.
The National Electronic Register of Households Without Access to Electricity in Romania was developed with the support of the Ministry of Energy as a tool to measure the extent of extreme energy poverty in Romania. It represents an important step towards addressing this phenomenon, providing a foundation both for public policies aimed at reducing extreme energy poverty and for concrete initiatives such as the “Energy for Life” project.
RENGEER identified 5,494 households without access to electricity, inhabited by 11,611 people, including 4,777 children under the age of 18. Particularly concerning is the fact that 87% of homes without electricity do not have cadastral documentation, making an institutional solution to the problem more difficult. In addition, 64% of people living in homes without electricity are estimated to have incomes below Romania’s minimum income threshold per person and household, which would make it difficult for them to afford electricity consumption. Access to the properties is also challenging in 53% of cases, while 10% have no access roads at all.
“Access to electricity should not be a privilege, but a normality for every home in Romania. Behind each of the 26 homes included in this edition of the Energy for Life project are individual stories of people for whom electricity means much more than light: it means safety, health, education, dignity and the opportunity for a normal life. Sometimes, this intervention can change the future of a family and even of an entire community. We are pleased to support a project that demonstrates how energy can change lives and restore hope where it is needed most,” said Nicolas Richard, CEO of ENGIE Romania.
The European Union regards access to energy not only as an economic issue, but also as a fundamental right of citizens. From a European perspective, tackling energy poverty is a priority, and Member States are expected to adopt policies that promote social fairness and ensure that the benefits of the green transition also reach the most vulnerable members of society.
The European Commission emphasizes that “a just energy transition involves and supports all citizens, regardless of where they live or how much they earn.” Likewise, “Leave no one behind” is the central principle of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It reflects the commitment of all UN Member States, including Romania, to eradicate extreme poverty, eliminate discrimination and exclusion, and reduce inequalities, ensuring that development efforts reach everyone — particularly the most vulnerable and marginalized.
“Romania has taken several important steps in addressing extreme energy poverty. The electrification of homes that are not connected to the electricity grid, within a 10-year timeframe, has been included in the Romania Energy Strategy 2025–2035, with a 2050 outlook, whose working group I was part of. The Intelligent Energy Association also developed, together with the Ministry of Energy, the National Electronic Register of Households Without Access to Electricity, as part of the Partnership for Combating Energy Poverty established between the two entities.
“All these measures provide a solid starting point for eliminating extreme energy poverty, but many steps remain before we reach the goal of zero homes without access to electricity. The Intelligent Energy Association will continue to bring the situation of unelectrified households in Romania to the forefront and to intervene directly where our support is most needed. We would like to thank everyone who believes in our cause, who understands that society can only progress by showing care for people and the environment, and who supports our efforts,” said Dumitru Chisăliță, President of the Intelligent Energy Association.
The “Energy for Life” project was launched in the summer of 2021 to raise awareness of extreme energy poverty in Romania. The initiative received strong support from companies and media organizations, making its implementation possible.
Over the past six years, the Intelligent Energy Association has provided electricity to 97 properties in 44 hamlets across 11 counties in Romania.
The 11th edition of “Energy for Life” is fully supported by ENGIE Romania.
The following media organizations have joined the initiative as media partners: Agerpres, Financial Intelligence, The Diplomat-Bucharest, Club Antreprenor, Ziarul Pozitiv, Business Catalog, InvesTenergy, Focus Energetic, Energy Industry Review, Energynomics, Energy Center, E-nergia, Energy Magazine, NewsEnergy, EM 360 Studio, Economistul, Club Economic and România Durabilă.