---
title: "Expert: Current price caps block electricity imports and may worsen winter deficit in Ukraine"
description: "Expert Volodymyr Omelchenko stated that current price caps restrain electricity imports to Ukraine and could worsen the winter deficit. Price caps need to be raised to ensure EU supplies remain attractive."
date: 2026-11-04T18:06:45.665Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/price-caps-block-electricity-imports-winter-deficit
tags: [ukraine-energy, price-caps, electricity-import, winter-deficit, razumkov-center]
author: "Darya Fomina"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Expert: Current price caps block electricity imports and may worsen winter deficit in Ukraine

![High-voltage power transmission lines run through a snow-covered forest during a winter sunset](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/04/prays-kepy-blokiruyut-import-elektroenergii-zimniy-defitsit/prays-kepy-blokiruyut-import-elektroenergii-zimniy-defitsit-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Current price caps make electricity imports commercially unviable because Ukrainian prices are lower than European ones
- Without raising price caps, the winter electricity deficit may intensify
- Damaged grid infrastructure further limits the transmission of imported energy to deficit regions
- Current maximum price caps: UAH 15,000/MWh on the day-ahead and intraday markets, UAH 17,000/MWh on the balancing market

As the energy system prepares for the winter season, Ukrainian expert Volodymyr Omelchenko stated that the current price caps on the electricity market are restraining imports and could exacerbate the deficit during the cold period. According to him, to maintain the commercial attractiveness of supplies from abroad, the price caps must be raised.

### Why price caps block imports

Omelchenko, Director of Energy Programs at the Razumkov Centre, explained that Ukrainian electricity prices are artificially limited, whereas electricity costs on EU markets can be higher. Under such conditions, imports to Ukraine lose their commercial sense: it is impractical for a supplier to sell energy at a price not permitted by the internal price cap. "We need to raise the price cap, I've been talking about this for so long, nobody wants to hear it," the expert noted.

### Winter as the most vulnerable period

According to Omelchenko's assessment, the problem will become particularly acute in winter, when the need for additional electricity increases. If the level of price caps is not raised, imports will remain commercially unviable, which, according to the expert, will lead to an increase in the deficit precisely during the winter period.

### Damaged grid as the second barrier

Even if electricity is available and there is a readiness to import it, the transmission capabilities to deficit regions are limited by damage to grid infrastructure, Omelchenko added. Energy cannot always be transmitted through damaged substations, which further narrows the actual import opportunities.

### Current levels and business calls

To date, the maximum price cap on the day-ahead and intraday markets in Ukraine is UAH 15,000/MWh, and on the balancing market it is UAH 17,000/MWh. Earlier, the European Business Association repeatedly appealed to NEURC to review the approach to price caps and establish economically justified price limits on organized market segments.

### Broader winter context

Omelchenko's statement comes against the backdrop of forecasts about a possible expansion of blackouts in winter. Energy expert Stanislav Ihnatiev previously estimated that with an average daily temperature of around -10 °C and no new significant shelling, blackouts could reach a total of six or more hours per day, most noticeably in Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast, and frontline regions. According to him, solar generation operates inefficiently in winter, which additionally limits the balancing capabilities of the energy system.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Дефицит электроэнергии зимой может возрасти: при чем здесь прайс-кепы](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/defitsit-elektroenergiyi-vzimku-mozhe-zrosti-1793815341.html) - Primary source: Omelchenko's statement, price cap levels (15,000 / 17,000 UAH/MWh), mention of EBA calls.
- [Низкие прайс-кепы могут еще больше усугубить дефицит электроэнергии зимой, – Омельченко](https://www.unian.net/economics/energetics/nizkie-prays-kepy-mogut-eshche-bolshe-usugubit-deficit-elektroenergii-zimoy-omelchenko-13549959.html) - Corresponds with the core: thesis on artificial price reduction, quotes, import restriction, winter risk.
- [Света может не быть по 6 часов в день: украинцев предупредили об отключениях](https://glavred.info/energy/sveta-mozhet-ne-byt-po-6-chasov-v-den-ukraincev-predupredili-ob-otklyucheniyah-10802231.html) - Used as context: Ihnatiev's forecast of 6+ hours of outages in winter, -10 °C, 1100 houses at Darnytsia CHP, inefficiency of solar generation. Attribution preserved.

## FAQ

### What are the current maximum price caps on Ukraine's electricity market?

On the day-ahead and intraday markets — UAH 15,000/MWh, on the balancing market — UAH 17,000/MWh.

### Why do price caps hinder electricity imports?

Because Ukrainian prices are artificially limited and can be lower than European ones; under such conditions, imports become commercially disadvantageous for the supplier.

### What does the expert say about the winter period?

Omelchenko warns that with increased consumption in winter and without raising price caps, the electricity deficit may increase.

### Are there additional restrictions on imports?

Yes, damage to grid infrastructure: energy cannot always be transmitted to deficit regions through damaged substations.