Romanian Utility Prices To Stay Put Despite Distributor Claims

“From our talks with the distributors, this hike is unsustainable. We don’t plan to raise prices until July 1,” Vosganian said. “What comes after that, nobody knows,” he added.

Gas distributors E.ON Gaz Romania, the local unit of Germany’s giant E.ON, and Distrigaz Sud, majority-owned by French utility Gaz de France, have repeatedly urged regulators to raise gas prices by up to 19% to cover losses from soaring import prices.

In its most recent adjustment, the Romanian energy watchdog increased household gas prices by 8.5% Feb. 1, on higher international prices.

Electricity prices are expected to rise come July 1 due to higher production costs over environmental requirements, Nicolae Opris, the deputy head of the country’s watchdog, said during the same seminar.

“We’ll see a further price adjustment starting July 1, and the costs entailed by the CO2 emission reduction might add some pressure,” Opris said.

The European Union, which Romania joined in 2007, imposed member states to gradually reduce their carbon dioxide, or CO2, emissions by 20% until 2020.