“Our main sustainability objectives focus on reducing carbon emissions, which means significantly increasing the share of renewable energy in our portfolio and providing customers with efficient solutions for smart energy consumption. We focus on supporting the energy transition through green technologies such as photovoltaic systems, heat pumps, and electric mobility infrastructure, all of which are increasingly in demand,” Claudia Griech, General Director, E.ON Energie România told Sustainability Today.
“At the same time, digitalization plays a key role in our strategy because we want to give customers quick and easy access to services that help them optimize their consumption and become more environmentally responsible. Last but not least, we place great emphasis on consumer education through our online platforms, where we encourage them to adopt sustainable habits and better understand how each of them can contribute to a cleaner energy future.”
What are the strategic priorities for E.ON Energie Romania for the next 2–3 years?
For the upcoming period, we aim to support and accelerate the energy transition through integrated solutions for both residential and business customers, with a focus on sustainability, efficiency, and digitalization. We will continue to invest significantly in innovation and technology to make modern and intuitive services easily accessible to our customers.
One of our top priorities is to provide reliable, high-quality, and competitively priced energy supply services to our 3.5 million customers. In a volatile economic environment, we know that stability and predictability are essential, and we want to offer our customers clear, transparent, and sustainable options.
We focus on delivering efficient and smart turnkey energy solutions and services to help customers produce their own energy, reduce costs, and at the same time lower their carbon footprint. Recently, we surpassed the milestone of 100,000 customers who have chosen modern and efficient solutions for their homes or businesses, with this segment becoming increasingly important within our business.
For example, in the residential area, more than 7,000 families use green energy production systems from E.ON, and in the first half of this year, we installed 2,270 photovoltaic systems, a 13% increase compared to the same period last year. Over 33,000 families have chosen our climate control solutions, leading to an 11% increase in the number of installed units. In the e-mobility sector, we have installed more than 600 private charging points for customers in Romania.
In the non-residential segment, E.ON Energie Romania’s portfolio of photovoltaic generation projects currently includes 399 completed projects, with a total value of €75 million. Photovoltaic energy production exceeds 100 GWh per year, reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 19,000 tons annually.
Digitalization is another strategic priority. In the last five years, about 83% of our IT investments, amounting to €24 million, have been directed toward modernizing and optimizing digital platforms.
The E.ON Myline platform and the eon.ro website offer customers self-service functionalities, from contract signing to termination, data management, and feedback submission. Omnichannel interaction is ensured through the integration of the mobile app, chatbot, call center, and online channels, so that every customer receives a quick and efficient response, regardless of the channel used.
The number of digital customers has doubled compared to 2020, and we now have more than 2.4 million consumption points registered on the E.ON Myline platform, representing almost 70% of our portfolio. In addition, over 1.97 million electronic invoices are active.
How do you see the evolution of the energy market in Romania over the next decade, and what role will E.ON play in this transformation?
Green energy will increasingly become part of our lives; however, for many years to come, it will be used alongside conventional energy sources.
Romania is taking steps to double its nuclear capacity, enhancing energy security while also supporting climate objectives. At the same time, I expect natural gas to continue playing a significant role in the future of Romania’s energy sector, although its role will likely decrease gradually as the country transitions to a greener energy mix.
Through a combination of conventional and renewable energy sources, we can make energy more affordable. In fact, the energy transition means the democratization of energy, which is why we promote systems and solutions that allow customers to generate their own energy and consume it more wisely and efficiently.
We are committed to being promoters of energy transition through the energy solutions we have developed and tailored to our customers’ needs. We are talking about photovoltaic systems and plants, heat pumps, and, last but not least, charging stations for electric vehicles.
What are the main sustainability objectives that E.ON is currently pursuing?
Our main sustainability objectives focus on reducing carbon emissions, which means significantly increasing the share of renewable energy in our portfolio and providing customers with efficient solutions for smart energy consumption. We focus on supporting the energy transition through green technologies such as photovoltaic systems, heat pumps, and electric mobility infrastructure, all of which are increasingly in demand.
At the same time, as I mentioned earlier, digitalization plays a key role in our strategy because we want to give customers quick and easy access to services that help them optimize their consumption and become more environmentally responsible. Last but not least, we place great emphasis on consumer education through our online platforms, where we encourage them to adopt sustainable habits and better understand how each of them can contribute to a cleaner energy future.
All these efforts reflect E.ON’s commitment to being a reliable partner in the transition toward a more sustainable and accessible energy system for everyone.
Can you tell us about some of the most important projects you have recently implemented?
I would mention two pioneering projects. A first for us is the first long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), with E.ON Energie Romania becoming a green energy producer following the completion of a photovoltaic plant for the Webasto factory in Arad. Through this project, worth €1 million, developed, implemented, financed, and operated by E.ON Energie Romania, the entire amount of renewable energy produced – about 1,530 MWh per year – will be sold long-term, over 15 years, to Webasto at a fixed price with annual indexation.
And a first for the Romanian energy industry – we launched AI Search E.ON, the first intelligent virtual assistant for customers and visitors of the eon.ro website, giving them simple and fast 24/7 access to all information on the portal. The virtual assistant provides complete answers generated by artificial intelligence, using various AI models offered through the AzureOpenAI platform. We have seen very good results just two months after implementation: in July, the number of interactions was about 1,500, and the average response time reached 2–3 seconds.
How do you ensure that sustainability initiatives are aligned both with EU directives and Romania’s energy needs?
Our business has always been closely interconnected with environmental, social, and governance aspects.
We closely monitor both European and national legislation in the energy and environmental fields, and our strategy is fully aligned with decarbonization objectives.
Through the E.ON Group Commitment, adopted in June 2018, we aim to ensure that all our actions are carried out with great responsibility, respecting the environment and natural resources, while also contributing through sustainable development to a secure future for our customers, employees, business partners, and other stakeholders.
At the same time, we work closely with authorities, experts, and industry partners to address the specific needs of the Romanian market. In this way, we develop customized solutions that meet our customers’ energy needs, support the country’s energy security, and promote the transition to a sustainable and competitive energy model.
Through this integrated approach, we manage to combine the ambitious European objectives with the local context, ensuring that our investments and projects bring real value both to the environment and to the communities we serve.
How is E.ON involved with local communities beyond energy supply?
For over 20 years, we have shown that we stand by the communities in which we operate and that our involvement goes far beyond energy supply. What I believe sets us apart from other multinational companies are the people and the way each colleague understands the importance of giving something back to the community. Thousands of volunteer hours are dedicated by our colleagues each year – whether it is preparing hot meals for the homeless, setting up playgrounds in schools or kindergartens, spending time with seniors or young people with disabilities, or participating in annual tree-planting campaigns. All these are clear examples that we care about what is around us and that, when we bring our energy together, we can truly make a difference. And because our goal is to genuinely do good in the communities where we operate, we try through every campaign, project, or cause we support to address the specific needs identified locally. This is only possible with the help of our local partners, with whom we have always worked openly, becoming a trusted partner when it comes to the well-being of the community.
Can you tell us about one or two CSR projects that are particularly close to your heart?
It is very difficult to choose only one because each CSR project is close to my heart, as they are all about people and for people. However, I would mention the “Give the Gift of Light” project, which is very dear to me. This initiative has brought us closer, year after year, to vulnerable communities, as well as to talented young people and children who need support to perform. For more than seven years, we have been donating energy to various social or educational institutions with the support of Romanians eager to join the campaigns carried out online. Together, we have reached over 8 million kWh of donated energy, with more than 80 beneficiary institutions and 3,300 low-income families supported.
More recently, we began a wonderful collaboration with the KinetoBebe Association in Bucharest. We have provided therapy scholarships for children with disabilities who come to the association every day, and now we want to organize the first inclusive opera performance, specially designed for children and young people with various neurological conditions or disabilities. It is an ambitious project that will greatly benefit the children, their families, and society as a whole because we are slowly beginning to embrace differences.
What role does education play in your community efforts, especially around energy efficiency or climate change awareness?
Education is one of the priority areas in which we get involved. We believe in its importance and see all these efforts as investments in our future and that of our children. As an energy company playing a key role in the energy transition, care for the environment and the promotion of energy efficiency are important pillars in our educational projects. We run several campaigns to help customers make sustainable and efficient choices, carried out on platforms such as “Energy Station” on eon.ro and despre-energie.ro.
Our focus is also on schools and kindergartens, with the “Energy Lessons” project. Every year, volunteer colleagues go in front of students and talk to them about green energy sources, energy efficiency, and how to stay safe around different energy sources. Since 2009, around 1,500 volunteers have shared information about energy and safety with over 32,000 students in 800 schools.
But our efforts in this area do not stop here. Another project that promotes energy efficiency and environmental care is “Energy in Childhood Schools.” Educational and information campaigns are complemented by investments in school infrastructure. For nearly ten years now, we have been replacing lighting systems in various schools and kindergartens with new ones based on LED technology. This year, the project was launched as a school competition, encouraging educational institutions to propose activities that promote energy efficiency and environmental protection.
What partnerships (with NGOs, schools, local authorities) have proven most effective in engaging the community?
Throughout our activity, we have established numerous partnerships with associations, institutions, and authorities, proving that we are a reliable partner, open to truly listening to the community’s needs. Each of these partnerships is important to us, and it is hard to choose. However, I would first mention the “Together for Safety” partnership signed between E.ON, IGSU, and DSU more than 13 years ago. It is the only partnership of its kind in Romania and has endured for so many years, promoting safety messages among Romanians through radio and TV campaigns as well as online initiatives.
Another partnership I would like to highlight is with the “Zi de Bine” Association, through which we support one project every month. These projects help vulnerable communities that would otherwise be hard to identify. By the beginning of this year, we had already been involved in 42 such projects, benefiting tens of thousands of people.
As I mentioned earlier, we stand alongside our partners at the KinetoBebe Association in their efforts to help children with various neuromotor disabilities. Through our involvement, we provide Therapy Scholarships to children who would otherwise not have the chance to complete the long-term treatment they need, simply because their parents cannot afford the costs.
Building a sustainable community also means supporting or encouraging artistic initiatives, whether in music, theater, or film. This is the only way we can foster creativity, which is so important in shaping a sustainable future. In the arts, we have had partnerships for many years and support festivals such as TIFF, FITS, and Anonimul. In addition, with Classic Unlimited, we bring classical music to schools and small towns where access to such concerts is almost non-existent.
And, last but not least, I must mention every school, institution, and local authority that supports us in the projects we carry out. We see every collaboration as a potential long-term partnership, offering them support and understanding.
E.ON Energie Romania, a member of the German E.ON Group, is an integrated supplier of natural gas, electricity, and energy solutions, serving a diverse portfolio of approximately 3.5 million customers, including residential consumers, businesses, and municipalities. The E.ON Group is one of the leading players in the energy market, with a strong presence in Romania for over 20 years. Since entering the Romanian market, E.ON has invested approximately €2.4 billion, primarily in network modernization. Additionally, its contributions to the state and local budgets amount to €3.8 billion.
