Liberalisation of the gas market from April 2026 - major impact on pensioners' bills

From 1 April 2026, Romania's natural gas market will be fully liberalised, meaning the state will no longer intervene in price-setting. This change will hit household budgets particularly hard, especially for seniors and pensioners who are already facing mounting financial pressures.

Initial estimates point to dramatic price increases for domestic consumers, ranging from 6.5% to 35%. For an elderly person receiving an average pension, these rises could mean the difference between being able to heat their home adequately and having to cut back on heating — with serious risks to their health.

Bucharest's district heating system under threat

The situation is particularly alarming in the capital, where the district heating system serves large numbers of elderly residents. The cost per gigacalorie has already risen since November 2025, and a further increase of 22% is anticipated from April 2026. The greatest concern, however, is the financial difficulties facing the Bucharest City Hall in maintaining its heating subsidy.

Should the subsidy no longer be sustainable, Bucharest residents could find themselves paying the real market price of over 1,000 RON per gigacalorie. For seniors living in flats connected to the centralised heating system, this would mean bills nearly three times higher — an unbearable financial burden.

Impact on household finances

The knock-on effects of these price rises will be felt across the wider economy, with additional inflation in industry estimated at 5 percentage points. Everyday consumer goods could become up to 30% more expensive, directly eroding pensioners' purchasing power. Medicines, food, and medical services will all cost more.

For elderly people on low pensions, this situation risks creating a vicious cycle: higher utility bills mean less money for medicines and medical care, which can lead to a deterioration in health and greater medical costs in the long run.

Recommendations for protecting your budget

Experts advise pensioners to pay close attention to communications from their energy suppliers and not to passively accept new tariffs. Checking competing offers and switching supplier can be an effective financial protection strategy. Families with elderly members should help them navigate these changes and find the most advantageous deals available.

It is also worth noting that electricity bills remain heavily burdened by ancillary taxes and charges, which account for over 40% of the total cost. From 2026, new carbon footprint taxes will be added on top of this, further worsening the financial situation of households on fixed incomes, such as those of pensioners.