Volodymyr Lysenko: "In Energy Club, the market speaks to the point and participates in shaping changes"

Ahead of its 10th anniversary, Energy Club is bringing together more and more companies that shape the modern energy market of Ukraine.

This year, TEPLA Energy Company joined the business community — a supplier of natural gas and electricity for business that also develops energy trading, proprietary generation projects, and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). Over more than ten years of operation, the company has supplied Ukrainian enterprises with over 850 million m³ of natural gas and 240 million kWh of electricity, and today helps businesses implement new energy solutions.

Volodymyr Lysenko

In an interview on the occasion of Energy Club’s anniversary, Volodymyr Lysenko, CEO of TEPLA Energy Company LLC, discussed why the company decided to become part of the Club, what practical value it gains from participating in the business community, and why an open professional dialogue is one of the key factors in developing the energy market.

– “TEPLA” joined the Club quite recently — in the spring of this year. But the decision itself had been maturing much earlier: I attended your events even before the company became a member, and saw how people communicate here, – said Volodymyr Lysenko. – Energy is an industry where many decisions are born not in offices, but in professional discussion. At some point, it became obvious to me: if we want to do more than just observe, but actually influence, we need to be where everyone gathers.

– Mr. Volodymyr, what practical value does participation in Energy Club bring to your company?

– First: the Club provides an opportunity to hear about upcoming market changes not from a regulator’s or ministry’s press release, but in advance — directly from the people who are involved in preparing these changes.

Second: the quality of feedback. As a supplier company, it is critical for us to understand what businesses are actually experiencing: how they plan, what they fear, and which decisions they postpone.

And third: the opportunity to be heard. When the market forms a unified position on a certain issue, it is essential that the voice of suppliers working with businesses every day is included.

– Which Energy Club formats are most useful to you, and why?

– Two formats work for us, and they are very different in nature.

Public forums are about scale. They gather many companies from the market, including our clients and colleagues. For us, it is a chance to communicate professionally and hear direct evaluations from businesses. Such feedback is invaluable.

Closed meetings are about depth. There, you can speak candidly: share forecasts, voice concerns, and ask uncomfortable questions. It is especially valuable when representatives of the regulator or ministry participate in the discussions. It is critically important for us to understand not only what decision was made today, but also where they are moving strategically and what market changes they are planning. Because we don’t contract resources for a single week — we build our model for the long term and aim to enter contracts at least a quarter in advance. Every signal about the market’s direction influences our decisions.

– In your opinion, how has the role of Energy Club for the energy market of Ukraine changed over 10 years?

– Honestly, it’s hard for me to evaluate a ten-year period — we joined relatively recently. But I can speak to what I see now. The community possesses authority and reputation, which in our industry is the most valuable asset. The fact that you have persevered through all these years, continued to develop, and united people around you is very important.

– What would you wish Energy Club for the next 10 years?

– Above all, to preserve what brings people here: honest conversation without unnecessary fluff. That is a rarity. Beyond that, more influence. May the Club’s stance not only be heard, but also reflected in decisions that define the rules for the entire market. May the membership grow. And on a human level: may the next ten years be calmer than the previous ones. We all deserve a bit of predictability.

– Is there an Energy Club event, discussion, or initiative that particularly stood out to your team?

– It’s hard to single one out: all the events we participated in were meaningful. But I will mention what is currently most pressing for us, as these are the exact topics we seek in the Club’s discussions — whether gas exports will be allowed, whether electricity imports will be opened. And most importantly — whether the same mechanisms as last year will apply during the upcoming heating season, when businesses were not disconnected provided they purchased at least 60% of imported electricity.

This is our operational reality. Long-term contracts are more advantageous for the client, but they must be concluded in advance, before the season starts. Entering into them blindly, without understanding the rules that will apply in winter, is a lottery. Therefore, any platform where one can hear a grounded signal about the direction of regulatory decisions holds direct practical value for us.

– In one sentence: Energy Club for your company is…

– A place where the market speaks to the point, and where we don’t just observe changes, but take part in shaping them.

Over ten years, Energy Club has become a platform where professional discussions are born, a shared vision for the development of the industry is formed, and partnerships between energy market participants are strengthened. These are precisely the opportunities that members of the business community value. Amid constant changes, regulatory challenges, and energy transformation, the ability to receive timely expert signals, openly discuss issues, and jointly seek solutions becomes not just an advantage, but a necessary condition for sustainable development.