PreturiCorecteLaGaze: In absence of information, non-household customers become easy victims of natural gas suppliers

by Dumitru Chisalita, Energy Expert

www.dumitruchisalita.ro 

Gas market liberalization for non-household customers as of January 1st 2015 determined the gas suppliers to increase gas prices on average by around 1.42%, i.e. approximately RON 2.2 for each MWh consumed. The free market can set the fair price for gas only if the customer has the necessary knowledge, is well and properly informed and is not subject to pressure from suppliers. Following the analysis of price offers submitted by part of the gas suppliers to non-household customers, with which they had a gas supply contract in regulated regime until December 31st 2014, we can determine the behavior of these suppliers. It’s important to show that in November 2014 ANRE established the regulated prices for non-household customers to which these suppliers sold gas. Given that during December 2014 – January 2015 there were no essential changes in the structure of suppliers’ costs, gas price as of January 1st 2015 for non-household customers had to be lower or equal to the gas price for December 2014. This statement is confirmed by the practice of several suppliers, which offered smaller prices, respectively by suppliers which under the pressure of negotiations with customers informed and assisted by consultants have concluded contracts at prices below the price of December 2014. In the table below you can see that most suppliers offered an average price (B1, B2, B3, B4) higher than the regulated gas price at which these suppliers sold gas until December 31st 2014.

Top increase in the average gas price offered for non-household consumers as of January 1st 2015

Only 5 suppliers, of those analyzed, understood to support the liberalized market and share part of their profit with customers. A fair gas price cannot be achieved without minimum knowledge for customers and/or without a proper advice.

For gas market development and customer protection, we have launched the campaign Fair Gas Prices. I invite you to join this initiative to have Fair Gas Prices.