Energy News Digest | December 2025 – January 2026

On 1 December 2025

the updated Rules of the Retail Electricity Market came into force, limiting the ability of non-residential debtors to avoid disconnection through litigation. From now on, for business consumers with confirmed debts, a lawsuit does not protect them from power cuts. The regulator has distinguished between cases of appealing against the actions of energy companies and the existence of obvious debt: if the debt is confirmed, the electricity supply may be cut off regardless of the court proceedings. At the same time, the basic principle of “pay first, then consume” remains unchanged, and domestic consumers retain the right to protection from disconnection, provided that they file a lawsuit in a timely manner and notify the supplier. The proposed approach does not apply to protected consumers and critical infrastructure enterprises.

On 5 December 2025

the NEURC approved Resolution No. 2009 on updated regulated tariffs for electricity transmission and distribution, which came into force on 1 January 2026. The new rates are mandatory for all electricity suppliers and will affect the final price of electricity, especially for business consumers. In particular, the tariff for transmission by NPC Ukrenergo is set at UAH 713.68/MWh (excluding VAT), and for electricity from alternative energy sources – UAH 352.00/MWh.

On 18 December 2025

the Verkhovna Rada sent the draft law № 13219 – a comprehensive “green” reform to support renewable energy – for a second reading. This draft law provides for the introduction of a “clean premium” system instead of the current contracts for difference (until the end of 2029), the introduction of flexible quotas between RES technologies, the creation of new financial instruments for small and medium-sized investors, and the improvement of guarantees of origin for “green” electricity. Parliament supported these changes in the first reading back in August 2025.

On 24 December 2025

the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine amended the National Plan for Reducing Emissions from Large Combustion Plants, extending the operating life of certain power units at thermal power plants and combined heat and power plants. The decision was made to ensure the stable operation of the energy system in conditions of martial law and constant Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, as well as taking into account Ukraine’s international obligations as a member of the Energy Community.

Although a number of installations were to be decommissioned at the end of 2025 in accordance with the requirements of Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, on 18 December

the Energy Community Council of Ministers agreed to temporary derogations for Ukraine. This allows large combustion plants to continue operating during the period of martial law, but no later than 31 December 2028, in order to maintain the balance reliability of the energy system and the uninterrupted supply of electricity and heat.

On 30 December 2025

the NEURC introduced changes with Resolution No. 2242, which amended the procedure for commercial electricity metering for large consumers (metering points of group “A”). The regulator has effectively postponed the full application of hourly incentive coefficients for enterprises and institutions financed from the state and local budgets until 1 January 2027.

Until 31 December 2026, such budget consumers are allowed to form hourly load schedules by calculation without applying incentive coefficients, which makes it possible to avoid financial burdens during the transition period and ensure the uninterrupted operation of critical facilities. At the same time, for other Group A consumers, a new procedure for forming hourly schedules using coefficients calculated on the basis of da-ahead prices will begin to apply from 1 January 2026.

The NEURC also introduced a unified approach to the formation of load schedules for major Group A consumers whose networks are connected to Group A or B sub-consumers, and set a permissible deviation of ±5% between operational and actual data for facilities equipped with smart meters.

On 2 January 2026

the Cabinet of Ministers, by Resolution No. 3, launched the development of an integrated plan for energy development and combating climate change. A resolution was adopted approving the Procedure for the Preparation of the National Energy and Climate Plan of Ukraine. This document defines the mechanism for developing the National Plan in accordance with the requirements of the Law of Ukraine “On the Fundamentals of State Climate Policy” and EU Regulation No. 2018/1999 on the management of the Energy Union. The preparation of the draft National Plan has been entrusted to the Ministry of Economy, which is to carry it out in accordance with the approved procedure and European commitments. This plan will align Ukraine’s energy strategy with climate goals, covering issues of energy security, renewable energy development, energy efficiency improvement, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction on the path to European integration.

On 16 January 2026

the NEURC raised the price caps on short-term segments of the electricity market by Resolution No. 70 to overcome the electricity shortage in a critical situation. From 17 January, the maximum price on the day-ahead market (DAM) and intraday market rose to UAH 15,000/MWh (minimum – UAH 10/MWh), and on the balancing market – to UAH 16,000/MWh (minimum – UAH 0.01). This decision, initiated by the Ministry of Energy, was caused by a significant generation deficit due to Russian shelling and abnormal cold weather.