Romanian electricity and gas prices surge to record levels amid winter strain
Spot prices for electricity have risen 57% and natural-gas prices have more than doubled on Romanian exchanges, driven by geopolitical tension and domestic production issues.
Romania’s energy markets have experienced sharp price spikes, with electricity on the OPCOM spot market up 57% and natural-gas contracts on the BRM exceeding a 100% increase. Autumn prices were relatively steady—electricity between 434 and 525 lei per megawatt hour and gas near 190-195 lei per megawatt hour—but winter heating demand lifted the next-day weighted average electricity price to 716 lei/MWh in January. Gas prices followed a similar trajectory, rising to about 250 lei/MWh and later to 310 lei/MWh as reserve rebuilding proved challenging.
A severe summer drought and reduced Danube flow forced the shutdown of the Cernavodă nuclear plant and sharply cut hydro output, eliminating roughly 20% of national baseload generation and triggering the price explosion. Analysts warn that the 2026-2027 winter could impose heavy energy costs on households, municipal budgets, heating subsidies, and energy-intensive industries.
Why it matters
Rising energy costs threaten household budgets and industrial competitiveness in Romania this winter.
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