Compensation for cold season to be provided throughout entire period; Moldovan president says government identifying additional resources

The authorities are aware of the pressure energy prices are placing on households and will ensure the necessary resources for the compensation mechanism to operate throughout the entire cold season. President Maia Sandu has made statements to this effect after the meeting of the National Security Council.

“I will not tell you that it will be easy, but I am convinced that we will get through this winter as well and that we will continue to stand by families, especially the most vulnerable ones. The government is to ensure the necessary resources for the compensation mechanism to operate throughout the entire cold season. The compensation will take into account tariffs’ developments and how vulnerable each household is. The government will also provide clear information about what people can do to save energy and how they should proceed, if temporary interruptions of electricity, gas or heating occur,” Maia Sandu said.

The statement was made amid uncertainty surrounding the evolution of energy resources’ prices, as well as the regional and international situation.

“Every tariff increase is strongly felt by our families. I know that citizens are worried about the coming winter. The fact that we do not know what prices will be like, that we do not know how regional and international conflicts will evolve—all these unknowns weigh heavily on each of us,” Maia Sandu said.

The head of state said that the exact amount needed for compensation cannot currently be estimated, since energy resources’ prices for the coming period are not known. According to Maia Sandu, the government is currently seeking additional resources beyond those already provided for or due to be included in the budget.

“There are funds planned in the budget, in this year’s budget, as several months of the heating season fall in 2026, and, of course, discussions are underway about the amounts to be allocated in the budget for 2027. It is difficult to say exactly how much money is needed, because we do not know exactly what energy resource prices will be, but the government is in the process of identifying additional resources beyond the ones allocated or due to be allocated from domestic sources,” the president noted.

The president also mentioned the support previously provided by Moldova’s external partners for the compensation mechanism. According to the head of state, external contributions have enabled the authorities to support more families during the cold season.

“Every time, our partners have come to our aid each winter, and this has allowed us to help more families. And, of course, now as well, we want to help more families and we hope that we will be able to secure an external contribution to this energy vulnerability fund,” Maia Sandu said.

The president also said that the amount of compensation would take into account both tariffs’ developments and the level of vulnerability of each household.

The government will provide energy compensation this year as well, but the criteria for selecting beneficiaries will be adjusted, so that support is directed toward the families that need it most. To provide the compensation, the parliament amended the budget for the current year, allocating 550 million lei on this purpose.

The authorities will assess the need to declare a state of emergency in the energy and hydrological sectors, amid risks related to the supply of resources for the cold season. The matter was discussed at a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC). At a news conference held after the NSC meeting, President Maia Sandu said that the government must be prepared to act quickly in the event of unforeseen situations, including a decrease in the flow of the Dniester River or an increase in fuel prices.