Household energy bills to drop by 13% following lower procurement costs and strategic revenue adjustments
Moldovan household consumers will pay €0.74 (approx. 14.42 MDL) per cubic meter of natural gas starting this week. The new regulated prices, approved by the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) on February 3, represent a 13% decrease compared to current rates.
The revised tariff includes a base price of 13.35 MDL plus an 8% Value Added Tax (VAT). The reduction will take full legal effect immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette.
Strategic redistribution of surplus revenue
The price cut was made possible by "positive financial deviations" totaling approximately 360 million MDL (approx. €18.5M). This surplus, accumulated by the state supplier Energocom, is being returned to the public through lower monthly bills.
ANRE Director Constantin Borosan confirmed that the regulator was able to set a lower tariff than initially proposed by the supplier. "By reducing the supplier’s regulated income, we have lowered the pre-tax price to 13,353 MDL per 1,000 cubic meters," Borosan explained.
A breakdown of the 2026 energy costs
The final price is composed of several regulated factors, with gas procurement accounting for 58% of the cost. Distribution services make up 36%, while transport and supply expenses account for the remaining margins.
Industrial and commercial sectors will also benefit from the adjustment. Prices for high-pressure networks have been set at 8,365 MDL per 1,000 cubic meters, while medium-pressure network rates have dropped to 9,533 MDL.
Market outlook for 2026
The new tariffs are projected to remain stable for the next 12 months. ANRE estimates the average annual procurement price for 2026 at €404 per 1,000 cubic meters (approximately €38/MWh).
This forecast represents a nearly 17% decrease in wholesale costs compared to the previous year, signaling a stabilization of the regional energy market.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
