Utility bills becoming increasingly difficult for Romanians to bear, experts warn

A growing number of families in Romania say that utility bills have become an increasingly heavy burden from one month to the next, against the backdrop of rising prices across the board. People are having to budget their basic expenses more carefully, and the situation could worsen: specialists are warning that gas and electricity bills will continue to rise in the coming period.

One resident explained to Realitatea Plus how much utilities can cost for an average family: "Unfortunately, the news is not good at all. We'd all like to pay less for energy. At the moment, things don't look great. For a normal family of two people, a three-room flat, a fridge, a washing machine... however much you wash... it comes to 300-something RON... which is excessive."

According to these estimates, a family living in a three-room flat and using basic household appliances such as a fridge and a washing machine can end up paying over 300 RON for electricity alone — a sum that people consider excessive relative to their income.