E.ON: gas prices expected to rise 20%

Natural gas distributor E.ON Gaz Romania says the price of natural gas could increase by 12% from April 1, while the annual increase is set to finally stand at 20%, so that domestic price rises are in line with the price of imported gas. “Due to this cost increase in natural gas, we expect to register an increase in the end price paid by the consumer by around 15-20% for the rest of the year. The first stage of this increase, by about 12% needs to be done on April 1. Our company has informed the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) about this need,” say E.ON.Gaz officials. Company officials believe the losses already incurred in the first quarter of the year were due to the ANRE being late in operating tariff increases, and to the low level of these increases. The latest price increase in natural gas, by an average 8.5%, took place on February 1, and was determined by the increase in the price of imported natural gas and from domestic production, as well as from the increase in the price of storage and distribution. The price of domestically produced natural gas, also climbed 5% on February 1, to 495 RON (around 200 dollars)/1,000 cubic metres.