Natural gas rates likely to be adjusted early next year

Natural gas rates could be adjusted early next year. Director of the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) Alexei Taran made the statement at a press club.

The official explained that before reaching the stage of approving regulated prices, several mandatory steps, which are currently ongoing, must be completed. Thus, under the conditions where Energocom took over the natural gas supply service from 1 September, ANRE will first approve its basic expenses, the investment plan, deviations, and subsequently, based on this data and the costs of gas acquisition and transportation, Energocom will be able to submit a request to ANRE regarding the adjustment of gas rates.


"Before directly approving the regulated prices, there are certain steps that, for the moment, are underway. Energocom is a new supplier, with a new activity in the public service obligation. We are already in the preliminary processes. This means that by the end of the year, we need to approve all these preliminary steps. Subsequently, based on these elements approved by the Agency, Energocom can come with a request to adjust the tariffs. (...) It's a combination of factors; we need all the exact figures," stated Alexei Taran.


Minister of Energy Dorin Junghietu stated that analyses regarding market prospects, supply and demand at regional or European levels indicate that there might be premises for price adjustments, but exact calculations are to be made by ANRE, which is responsible for setting regulated tariffs.


"We are analyzing how the market is evolving in the context where a good part of European countries have managed to complete creating their stocks for winter, and the pressure in the market gradually decreases. Moreover, TTF quotations have a downward trend," emphasized Minister Junghietu.


The last modification of natural gas rates, paid by end consumers, was approved at the end of November 2024. Currently, citizens pay 15.50 lei (excluding VAT) for one cubic meter of gas.

Energocom announced in mid-September this year that the average purchase price for the gas year 2025–2026 is projected at about 38.5 EUR/MWh (~ 410 EUR/1000 m3), a sum that includes the transport cost to the Virtual Trading Point (VTP) in Moldova.