Annual savings could reach up to 700 kuna per household.
On 1 April, gas prices will fall again and bring significant savings to consumers. The prices have already been reduced by 5 to 9 percent on 1 April last year, while this year’s price drop will range between 15 and 20 percent. So far, the information has been unofficially confirmed by HERA, the relevant regulatory agency which determines the prices, while the formal decision should be announced next week, report Poslovni.hr and 24sata.hr on March 13, 2016.
The Zagreb City Gasworks said they had not yet received the regulator’s decision, but they did have unofficial information about the price cut. They would not comment on the percentages until they have the final decision. The final price of gas will depend on the each of 34 distributors in Croatia. For most of the consumers in Zagreb, the price should go down by 20 percent, and in Rijeka by 16 percent. Households pay different gas prices, depending on consumption, and this percentage refers to the largest group of consumers – those who spend between 5,000 and 25,000 kilowatt-hours per year. Under the previous calculation method, these are consumers who use between 500 and 2,700 cubic metres of gas per year.
If the price were to be cut by 20 percent, most of gas consumers in Zagreb would save up to 700 kuna a year or about 58 kuna per month. The average household in Zagreb consumes about 10,200 kilowatt-hours and now pays 3,508 kuna. With the new rates, they would pay 2,807 kuna a year.
Prices are being changed on 1 April because on that date the energy year officially ends. Consumers will be able to feel the effect of the change during the next heating season.
However, it is possible that next year the gas prices could go up. The three year period during which the state has regulated the gas prices for households and determined the rates at which INA should sell the gas expires next year. The price liberalization could bring price increases, but it will all depend on the market.
