Energy compensation could reach 670,000 families this winter

Approximately 670,000 families could benefit from energy compensation during the 2026–2027 cold season, around 50,000 more than in the previous year. Prime Minister Vasile Tofan said yesterday during a television program that applications will begin to be submitted on November 2, while the authorities will conduct more thorough checks to ensure that assistance reaches genuinely vulnerable households.


“This year, we will actually have to increase the number of families receiving these compensations,” the prime minister told Exclusiv TV, explaining that developments in energy tariffs had prompted the Government to abandon its initial plan to gradually reduce support.


According to Vasile Tofan, during the previous cold season, compensation was provided to approximately 620,000 families, representing more than 1.2 million people. For this winter, preliminary estimates indicate approximately 670,000 beneficiary households.


“The criteria will not become stricter in terms of determining vulnerability,” the prime minister said.


He added that checks would be more thorough to ensure that assistance is granted to those who need it most.

The energy vulnerability assessment system was developed together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and takes household energy expenses into account. In addition to income declared to the State Tax Service and data on social benefits, the authorities will also analyze indirect indicators of a household’s financial situation.


“We want to ensure that people who have no income on paper but earn substantial amounts from various sources are not prioritized when compensation is awarded,” Vasile Tofan explained.


Factors that could be examined include ownership of a new car, receipt of dividends, the existence of large bank deposits, high gas consumption, and the cadastral value of the home.

The prime minister stressed that household support does not represent a definitive solution to high tariffs. He attributed the increase in gas prices to the situation on the international market and reduced supply.

“These tariffs will not remain high forever,” Vasile Tofan said, noting that prices on the European market currently indicate a possible medium-term decline, according to current estimates. However, tariff developments will depend on conditions in the energy market, and forecasts do not constitute a guarantee.

Regarding the structure of the natural gas tariff, the prime minister said that slightly more than 17 lei of the tariff represents the cost of gas, approximately five lei goes toward distribution through Moldovagaz, while the Energocom component amounts to around 55 bani.

Regarding gas purchases, Vasile Tofan said he supports medium-term contracts, lasting three to five years, for certain volumes, instead of commitments lasting ten or twenty years. Prices could be calculated using formulas that combine European TTF and Brent crude oil quotations, with the aim of reducing volatility.

The “Help with the Meter” program will provide energy compensation to vulnerable households for the fifth consecutive year, from November to March. The assistance is provided as a monetary payment made monthly. For this purpose, the state budget allocated 1.5 billion lei in 2024 and 2.34 billion lei in 2025.

During the previous season, compensation ranged from 500 to 1,000 lei, with the average amounting to approximately 750 lei per household. The total allocation was around 2.5 billion lei.

Earlier, Finance Minister Victoria Belous said that the optimal budget for allocating compensation this year would be approximately 3 billion lei. This would allow the Government to support a larger number of citizens through compensation during the cold season.