This follows from a draft resolution published by the National Energy Regulatory Agency titled “On the Approval of Regulated Prices for the Supply of Natural Gas by Energocom to Certain Categories of End Users as Part of Public Service Obligations.” NARE proposes setting the tariff at the low-pressure natural gas distribution network exit points at 18,798 lei per 1,000 cubic meters, instead of the 19,378 lei per 1,000 cubic meters requested by the state-owned company Energocom. Thus, if NARE approves the tariff as proposed without changes, the gas tariff for residential consumers will increase by 40.7%—from 13.35 to 18.79 lei per 1 cubic meter, excluding VAT (from 14.42 to 20.29 lei including 8% VAT). NARE invites all interested parties, including representatives of civil society, experts, and specialists in this field, to review the draft document and submit specific proposals, comments, and recommendations within 10 business days of its publication. The public consultation process aims to ensure an open dialogue with all stakeholders and to gather relevant opinions for an objective review of the draft. NARE pledges to analyze all proposals received in accordance with the legal framework and the supporting rationale presented in the published documents. At the same time, NARE emphasizes the importance of providing complete and accurate information about the regulated price approval process and urges participants in the public discussion to use the published official data and formulate their positions based on relevant arguments and analyses, avoiding interpretations taken out of context. It should be noted that Energocom had previously submitted a request to NARE proposing a 45.2% increase in the gas tariff for residential consumers—from 13.35 to 19.38 lei per cubic meter, excluding VAT (from 14.42 to 20.93 lei including VAT). Energocom noted that the request was due to a significant change in the cost of purchasing natural gas, caused by external factors beyond the supplier’s control. Geopolitical events in the Middle East and heightened security tensions at the regional level have impacted European natural gas markets, leading to rising trading prices and price volatility. These events directly affected the supplier’s procurement costs. When the current regulated prices were approved, the weighted average procurement price of natural gas was set at 404.24 euros per 1,000 cubic meters for 2026. Subsequently, market conditions changed significantly, so that for the period from January through July 2026, the average purchase price reached approximately 423.28 euros per 1,000 cubic meters, and for the period from August through December 2026, it is estimated at approximately 623.54 euros per 1,000 cubic meters. As noted, from January through July 2026, the costs required to provide the regulated service exceeded the revenues that could be generated based on current prices, resulting in a tariff shortfall estimated at approximately 106.8 million lei. For the period from August through December 2026, the proposed adjustment is intended solely to cover reasonable and necessary costs associated with the provision of public natural gas supply services and to prevent the accumulation of additional tariff deviations. Should international prices decline and conditions for a tariff reduction arise, the company will request that the National Energy Regulatory Authority (NARE) review the regulated prices in accordance with the legal framework and current methodology. It should be noted that the natural gas tariff for residential consumers was last adjusted in early February 2026, and as of February 4, the natural gas tariff for residential consumers was reduced by 13.9% — from 15.5 to 13.35 lei per cubic meter excluding VAT (from 16.74 lei to 14.42 lei including VAT). // July 22, 2026 – InfoMarket.