The European
Commission said on Friday ithas concluded that electricity supply contracts
signed by the state-owned Romanian hydropower producerHidroelectrica with
certain electricity traders and industrial customers did not involve state aid
within the meaning of the EU rules.
The Commission found that the
contracts were either concluded on market terms or, where tariffs were below
market level, that the Romanian state could not be held responsible for the
tariffs granted, it said in a statement.
The analysis revealed that
Hidroelectrica charged prices that were fully in line with the benchmark market
price to nine customers -ArcelorMittal, Alro, Alpiq RomEnergie, Alpiq
RomIndustries, EFT, Electrica, Electromagnetica, Energy Holding
andEuro-Pec.
The prices charged to Luxten-Lighting, Electrocarbon and
Elsid were lower than the benchmark market price, butthe decision to grant
favourable conditions to these relatively minor private players cannot be
attributed to the Romanian authorities, the statement added.