Up until quite recently, the field of electricity supply in Slovenia was regulated by the Energy Act (“EZ-1”),[1] which additionally governed several other areas and has, over the years, became vastly extensive and impractical. As a response the legislator decided to take the initiative and on 20 October 2021, the National Assembly of Republic of Slovenia accepted the new Electricity Supply Act (“ZOEE”)[2] which entered into force on 13 November 2021 and replaced certain provisions from the existing EZ-1.
The most relevant practical changes the ZOEE brings are:
- Changes in the relationship between electricity companies and final consumers
ZOEE regulates the defined rights of final and household consumers in more detail and provides for their additional protection. The final consumer can now conclude an agreement for the consumption of the electricity with several suppliers at the same time.
An important novelty is the final consumers’ right to conclude an “agreement with dynamic prices” (i.e., prices that are constantly adjusted to the market), which may be requested by any final consumer with installed advanced metering system. The obligation to fully inform the final consumer of its opportunities, costs and risks related to the dynamic price agreements before concluding such agreement, lies within a supplier who has concluded electricity supply agreements with more than one hundred thousand final consumers.
- New roles: Active consumers and Aggregators
ZOEE (re)introduces the roles of “active consumer” and “aggregator”.
Active consumers were already known so far, however their position has only been regulated partially in the field of self-sufficiency in electricity from renewable sources. ZOEE now regulates them in a comprehensive manner, regardless of the source of electricity. Active consumers can enter the market without disproportionate or discriminatory requirements and are not subject to disproportionate network charges.
On the other hand, the role of aggregators is completely new. Aggregators shall provide the consumers with a variety of energy services, that will connect individual system users. Under ZOEE, consumer will be able to conclude an agreement with an independent aggregator, without the consent of the supplier or electricity operator.
- Energy Agency
Although the rights and obligations of the Energy Agency were already extensive, ZOEE additionally transposes and fully complements the existing provisions relating to the natural monopolies in the field of transmission and distribution of electricity. The aim of complementary provisions is to ensure stable and predictable regulation, that will provide consumers with reliable electricity supply at a reasonable price.
The information in this document does not constitute legal advice on any particular matter and is provided for general informational purposes only.
[1] Energetski zakon (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, no. 60/19, with amendments).
[2] Zakon o oskrbi z električno energijo (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, no. 172/21).
