Moldova faces winter utility hikes across gas, heat, power
Moldova's energy regulator will review sweeping tariff increases on September 28, following simultaneous petitions from major utility operators to raise retail prices for natural gas, central heating, and cogeneration power.
The upcoming regulatory session follows a steep rally across European energy hubs, which left state energy supplier Energocom facing accumulated tariff deficits exceeding €8.91 million (approx. 180 million MDL), according to Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu.
Surging gas import costs drive adjustments
Energocom submitted a petition requesting a near 30% increase for household gas consumers, citing a 43% surge in forecast import prices compared to current baseline projections. The supplier proposed raising the retail tariff from 18.79 MDL to 24.30 MDL per cubic meter.
In its draft decision, the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) outlined a base tariff of 24.20 MDL per cubic meter. With the mandatory value-added tax included, household end users would pay 26.13 MDL per cubic meter starting in October, marking the third gas tariff adjustment this year.
District heating operators seek major increases
Municipal heating utilities also requested substantial price adjustments to reflect costlier primary fuel inputs. Capital district heating operator Termoelectrica petitioned for an 82.6% tariff increase, proposing a jump from 2,020 MDL to 3,689 MDL per gigacalorie.
ANRE moved to curb the supplier's initial request, calculating an adjusted rate of 3,277 MDL per gigacalorie before tax, or 3,539 MDL (€175.13) with VAT included. Roughly 70 residential apartment blocks serviced by Apă-Canal Chișinău face an adjusted rate of 3,193 MDL per gigacalorie under ANRE's draft project.
In the northern municipality of Bălți, district heating operator CET-Nord requested a 96% rate hike up to 4,314 MDL per gigacalorie. ANRE's proposal trimmed the increase, setting a projected final consumer price of 3,643 MDL per gigacalorie including tax.
Electricity produced through cogeneration will also see higher tariffs across both major urban centers. ANRE's draft decisions establish wholesale rates of 4.62 MDL per kilowatt-hour for Termoelectrica and 5.07 MDL per kilowatt-hour for CET-Nord.
Government readies winter support package
To soften the blow of rising utilities, the government will maintain its targeted on-bill compensation program for a caseload matching last year's coverage of more than 620,000 households. The initiative is estimated to require €113.8–€118.8 million (approx. 2.3–2.4 billion MDL) across the five-month heating period.
Parliament allocated roughly €24.74 million (approx. 500 million MDL) toward the program during recent budget revisions, while officials continue discussions with international development partners to bridge the remaining funding gap.
Labor and Social Protection Minister Natalia Plugaru noted that minimum monthly subsidies will remain set at 500 MDL (approx. €24.74), with maximum aid caps determined by final budget resources to ensure broad social coverage.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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