Romania extends cap on household gas prices until 2027

BUCHAREST, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Romania has adopted an emergency ordinance extending a cap on natural gas prices for household consumers at 0.31 lei (0.07 U.S. dollars) per kWh from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, according to legislation published in the Official Monitor late Monday.

The measure, approved by the government last week, replaces the current price capping and compensation scheme that expires at the end of March.

Under the ordinance, the final price charged to residential customers will remain capped at 0.31 lei per kWh.

The government also introduced a limit on the supply margin, capping it at 15 lei (3.42 dollars) per MWh to prevent suppliers from adding excessive costs to the final price.

Domestic gas producers will also be required to sell the quantities needed by suppliers and district heating producers serving households at a regulated price of 110 lei (25.11 dollars) per MWh, down from the previous level of 120 lei (27.39 dollars) per MWh.

The government said the intervention was necessary due to recent developments in the gas market, noting that prices published by major suppliers had exceeded the capped level.

Romania first introduced a price-capping scheme for households and companies in 2022 covering the period from Jan. 1, 2023, to March 31, 2025 for both electricity and natural gas. The scheme was later extended until June 30, 2025 for electricity and until March 31, 2026 for natural gas. ■