The new natural gas rates will start to be applied on October 1. According to the National Agency for Energy Regulation, the higher purchase price of gas is the main factor that generated a rise in gas rates, IPN reports.

“All the price adjustments this year – at the end of January, in June, August and now in September bur for October – are directly proportional to the evolution of the average import price. The modification of the purchase price is practically the main reason for the adjustments. Today’s decision is based on a number of reasons: one – the increase in prices on the stock exchange; two – the exceeding of the 1% ceiling stipulated in the methodology, which allows adjusting the prices; three – the necessity of ensuring the financial stability of the supplier so that this can fulfill the financial obligations deriving from the import of natural gas and the public service obligation,” NAER director Alexei Taran told a news conference.

The Agency approved the following regulated prices for natural gas without VAT:

- at entrance to natural gas transmission networks – 24 716 lei/1 000 m3;
- at exist from natural gas transmission networks – 24 914 lei/1 000 m3;
- at exist from high pressure natural gas transmission networks – 25 175 lei/1 000 m3;
- at exist from average pressure natural gas transmission networks – 25 493 lei/1 000 m3;
- at exist from low pressure natural gas transmission networks (household users) – 27 103 lei/1 000 m3.

The average purchase price of natural gas in the fourth quarter of this year, which, based on the contract provisions, was forecast at about 1 165 US dollars/1 000 m3, is by 28.7% higher than the annual average price that is reflected in the current regulated prices.