Ukrainian energy regulator sets price caps on DAM, IDM at UAH 15,000/MWh, UAH 17,000/MWh on BM
The National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission (NEURC) has established round-the-clock maximum price caps on the Day-Ahead Market (DAM) and the Intraday Market (IDM) at UAH 15,000/MWh, and on the Balancing Market (BM) at UAH 17,000/MWh.
The regulator resolution was adopted at a meeting of the regulator on Thursday, April 23. It comes into force on April 30, 2026.
According to the document, minimum price caps remained at current levels: UAH 10/MWh on the DAM and IDM, and UAH 0.01/MWh on the BM.
As reported, on April 7, 2026, NEURC began a regulatory procedure to review price caps, approving a draft resolution that initially proposed keeping them at current levels. On the DAM and IDM, these levels from 00:00 to 7:00 and 11:00 to 17:00 are UAH 5,600/MWh; from 7:00 to 11:00 and 23:00 to 24:00 – UAH 6,900/MWh; and from 17:00 to 23:00 – UAH 15,000/MWh. The minimum price cap is UAH 10/MWh. Maximum price caps on the BM from 00:00 to 7:00 are UAH 6,600/MWh; from 7:00 to 17:00 and 23:00 to 24:00 – UAH 8,250/MWh; and from 17:00 to 23:00 – UAH 16,000/MWh. The minimum price limit is UAH 0.01/MWh.
On April 17, NEURC posted a draft resolution that proposed returning the maximum price caps on the DAM and IDM to UAH 15,000/MWh, which were in effect until April 1, 2026.
At the same time, it was proposed to increase the maximum price cap on the BM to UAH 17,000/MWh, compared to UAH 16,000/MWh established before April 1, 2026. Minimum price caps were also planned to return to levels effective before that date.
Among other things, in the justification for the draft resolution, NEURC noted that the conflict in the Middle East negatively affects the provision of resources, particularly natural gas, leading to shortages and price increases. In the regulator’s view, this situation makes it impossible to predict future prices on the European Union gas market, which significantly impacts the operation of gas-fired generation.
From Jan 18 to March 31, 2026, price caps on the DAM and IDM were at UAH 15,000/MWh throughout the day, and UAH 16,000/MWh on the BM.
After the return to lower price caps on April 1, representatives of the cogeneration business noted that these levels did not cover the actual cost of electricity production for gas generation and did not allow for a return on investment, thereby deterring the launch of new projects and the development of existing ones.
