12 technical features. 5 legal models. Operational KPIs. A checklist for the mayor. One neutral document of 30-40 pages, written to be used - not to be quoted.
The current legal framework (Government Emergency Ordinance (OUG) 163/2022, amended by OUG 59/2025, plus ANRE (Romania's energy regulator) Orders 9/2026 and 50/2026) recognises energy communities in Romania and gives them access to the market. But the law says what a community is in legal terms, not how a well-built one looks technically, financially and operationally. The STUP Standard fills that gap - neutral, voluntary, readable for a mayor who has no time to become an engineer.
From generation and storage to EMS, settlement and grid interface - working definitions, not quotes from the directive.
Association, cooperative, limited company (SRL) owned by the municipality, NGO operator, public-private hybrid. Pros, cons, examples from Romania and the EU.
Indicators measurable year on year: self-consumption rate, distribution across members, capacity factor, citizen NPS, cost / kWh avoided.
A single page. Decisions to take before applying for funding. Questions to ask the integrator.
The full spectrum of a STUP-grade community - from the kWh produced to the citizen who receives the bill.
Renewable sources with legal proximity (REC) or extended municipal action (CEC).
BESS sized to the real consumption profile - not to the manufacturer's spec sheet.
A management system with a transparent, auditable allocation coefficient.
Bidirectional meters + communication with the DSO, in line with ANRE regulations.
An algorithm for sharing energy between members, set in the statutes.
Invoicing compliant with the tax code + monthly reporting to the national register.
Technical agreement with the DSO; a clear protocol for feeding in the surplus.
Statutes, general assembly, decision-making bodies - a model suited to the community's size.
UX for citizens: sign-up, contract, transparent consumption data.
Protection of consumption data + of the OT (Operational Technology) infrastructure.
A 10-year operating plan, tariff update scenarios, a reserve fund.
Ongoing communication with members: quarterly reports, an accessible general assembly.
There is no universally good legal model. The STUP Standard describes the three working forms available in Romania under the current legal framework - cooperative, association, homeowners' association, with operational examples and guidance on when to choose which.
For NGOs and homeowners' associations that produce only for self-consumption. No ANRE licence.
The Cooperativa de Energie model - an energy cooperative operating nationwide in Romania, with hundreds of members.
A limited company owned by the town hall, possibly shared with citizens / local SMEs.
The Spanish Sapiens model - the NGO manages under contract, the community decides.
Town hall + integrator + citizens - for major pilots (Valea Jiului, Petroșani).
Mapping REScoop, FEDARENE, BBEn, Sapiens, Som Energia, Énergie Partagée, Coopérnico, DESMI and 43 other references.
3 private sessions with 30-50 participants: integrators, lawyers, pilot mayors, ANRE, MIPE (the Ministry of Investment and European Projects).
Sent for comments to ARSC members, Coaliția Energie Comunitară (the Community Energy Coalition), REScoop.eu, FEDARENE.
Officially presented on the flagship event's stage, with the first 5 signatory mayors.
The Standard evolves in step with the law, technology and the operating experience gathered.
After 2 years of use of the Standard, we will launch STUP Mark: voluntary certification for communities that meet all 12 features. Independent audit, a fee of EUR 2-5K per community per year, national and European visibility.
We'll send you the document as a PDF, plus a one-page executive summary for your local council or board.
The Standard is free. Applying for the Mark will have a cost.
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