The National Energy Regulatory Agency made this decision at a meeting on Friday. The new rate will take effect on September 1. Specifically, on August 21, the ANRE approved regulated prices for Energocom's supply of natural gas to certain categories of end users in the context of public service obligations. As the energy regulator notes, the adjustment is primarily due to a significant increase in the cost of natural gas purchases and changes in supply terms for the remainder of the year. Based on its analysis, ANRE set the average supply price at 18,530 lei per 1,000 cubic meters. This approved price is 580 lei per 1,000 cubic meters lower than the price requested by the supplier and 6,870 lei per 1,000 cubic meters higher than the current price. ANRE notes that the main factor behind the price revision was the increase in the cost of purchasing natural gas. According to ANRE's analysis, additional pressure on purchase prices was exerted by risks associated with the conflict in the Middle East, the approaching cold season, and increased demand for natural gas due to the need to replenish reserves for the 2026–2027 season, competition for available volumes of liquefied natural gas (LNG), and limited availability of certain supply sources. The energy regulator notes that the cost of natural gas taken into account is not limited to the purchase price; it also includes costs associated with the transportation, injection, storage, and extraction of natural gas from fields, as well as other related expenses and logistical costs up to the Moldovan border. In setting the price, ANRE analyzed the documents and calculations submitted by the supplier and applied the provisions of the Law on Natural Gas and the Methodology for Calculating, Approving, and Applying Regulated Gas Prices. The differences between the supplier's calculations and those determined by ANRE relate, among other things, the method for determining the cost of natural gas procurement, the calculation of variances for January–July 2026, and the accounting for transportation service costs based on actual capacity utilization. At the same time, the supplier's regulated expenses directly related to supply were not increased; they remained at the level provided for by the current regulated prices and are estimated at 108.5 million lei for August–December. As noted by the ANRE, a scenario in which current prices are maintained or a decision on price adjustments is postponed due to rising real costs of natural gas procurement will lead to the further accumulation of significant losses (negative deviations) for the supplier, which has public service obligations. Over time, these losses must be offset by regulated prices in subsequent periods. The ANRE's draft resolution on the new tariffs has been submitted for public comment. The energy regulator received a number of comments, which mainly concerned the transparency and validity of the calculations, verification of the costs included in the price, the impact on consumers, and the need for a full justification of the decision. ANRE also organized public discussions on the draft with the participation of journalists, experts in the field, and opinion leaders. The suggestions and comments received were reviewed during the process of finalizing the draft resolution within the agency's legal authority and in accordance with the current tariff methodology. The natural gas tariff for residential consumers was last adjusted in early February 2026, and as of February 4, the natural gas rate for residential consumers was reduced from 15.5 to 13.35 lei per cubic meter, excluding VAT (from 16.74 lei to 14.42 lei, including VAT). // 21.08.2026 – InfoMarket.