Moldova signals moderate electricity tariff hike as gas costs rise

Moldova’s energy regulator expects to raise household electricity tariffs following higher natural gas costs and a regional hydropower shortfall, though any increase will remain smaller than recent gas and heating hikes.

National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) Director General Alexei Taran said an upward price adjustment is unavoidable, but noted it is too early to specify the exact timing or scale of the revision. Speaking on public broadcaster Moldova 1's "Pe Fata" program, Taran emphasized that any percentage increase for electricity would be more moderate than the steep hikes recently applied to natural gas and district heating.

Energy mix buffers gas price shock

Rising natural gas prices directly inflate domestic power generation costs because Moldova's combined heat and power (CHP) plants burn gas to produce both district heating and electricity. However, the final impact on retail bills depends on the share of CHP-generated electricity alongside external procurement costs.

According to Taran, domestic CHP plants generate roughly 15% to 20% of EU candidate Moldova’s annual electricity consumption. The country covers the remaining demand through cross-border imports and renewable energy, a diversified mix that helps cushion households against surging gas prices.

At the same time, a prolonged hydrological drought across Southeastern Europe since July and August has curbed hydropower output and pushed up wholesale electricity prices on the regional market.

“We are now witnessing an increase in a major component, namely the electricity generated by combined heat and power plants,” said Taran. “We also see regional market prices edging higher due to the hydrological drought that began in July and August and continues today, making a price adjustment for electricity unavoidable.”

Two-month regulatory timeline

Any retail tariff revision requires a multi-stage regulatory process taking anywhere from a few weeks to two months. First, ANRE must approve the wholesale regulated price for electricity supplied by state-owned central trader Energocom to local distribution companies.

Once wholesale rates are set, retail suppliers can submit formal tariff adjustment requests, which must undergo mandatory public consultation and regulatory review. Asked whether higher rates could take effect before the end of the year, Taran declined to set a firm deadline.

“First, we must approve the price of electricity purchased or delivered by the central supplier Energocom, after which retail suppliers will submit their own requests,” explained Taran. “While this transparent procedure can take from a few weeks to two months, it is certain that any electricity increase will not match the scale or percentage seen for natural gas and district heating.”

Current retail rates across Moldova

Households in central and southern Moldova, including the capital Chisinau, served by Premier Energy currently pay a regulated tariff of €0.18 (approx. 3.56 MDL) per kWh. Consumers in the north served by state-owned distributor Furnizarea Energiei Electrice Nord (FEE Nord) pay €0.20 (approx. 3.95 MDL) per kWh.

These rates apply to standard low-voltage universal service, while households equipped with smart hourly meters can opt for differentiated day and night tariffs. ANRE last adjusted electricity prices on March 31, 2026, when the regulator approved a slight rate reduction.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

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