NERC plans gas tariffs for industry for 2026: increase may reach 98%

Planned increase in natural gas distribution tariffs

The National Commission for State Regulation in the Spheres of Energy and Utilities (NERC) plans to consider a draft of new natural gas distribution tariffs for gas distribution network operators for 2026 on December 2, 2023. According to this project, an increase in prices for industrial consumers is foreseen, which may reach 98%.

Forecasted tariff changes

Stepwise increases in tariffs for non-household consumers are planned at 76% from April 1, 2026. The largest increase in tariffs is expected for:

• JSC 'Hadyachgaz' - the price may increase by 98%, to UAH 3.95 per cubic meter;
• Dnipropetrovsk branch of GRMU - the price may increase 2.9 times, to UAH 3.66 per cubic meter;
• Transcarpathian branch of GRMU - the increase will be only 25%, to UAH 2.48 per cubic meter;
• Kharkiv city branch of 'Gas Distribution Networks of Ukraine' - the tariff will increase by 80%, to UAH 0.78 per cubic meter.

At the same time, tariffs for household consumers will remain unchanged due to a moratorium on utility price increases.

The planned increase in gas tariffs for industrial consumers may significantly impact the economic situation in the country, as rising energy costs often reflect in the final prices of goods and services. Moreover, the constancy of tariffs for household consumers may indicate attempts by the government to alleviate social tension amid economic challenges; however, this may also lead to further pressure on the financial stability of gas distribution companies.