Heating Bills Rise Dramatically – Major Impact on Low-Income Pensioners

Romania is facing an energy crisis that will dramatically affect household budgets this winter, with a particularly severe impact on pensioners and elderly people on fixed incomes.

Recent figures show that electricity prices have risen by more than 62%, while district heating costs have increased by nearly 19%. For the coming cold season, building managers are estimating rises of at least 150 RON for a studio flat and between 200–250 RON for two-bedroom apartments.

These increases come against a backdrop in which Romania imports the most expensive energy in Europe, and the number of residents falling behind on utility payments is rising at an alarming rate month by month. The situation is set to worsen further next year, with the full liberalisation of the heating market.

Pensioners, who rely on fixed and limited incomes, are among the most vulnerable in the face of these price hikes. Many are being forced to choose between medication, food, and paying their heating bills — a situation that puts both their health and their safety at risk.

Experts are warning that this winter will be the hardest in a decade for low-income households, and that the support measures in place for vulnerable groups appear woefully inadequate given the scale of the problem.