Gas prices for households will increase from September by 5 percent, and by 10 percent for companies, International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission chief Erik der Vrijer announced on Tuesday (August 14 ).

“This is a correction of the lack of adjustment of prices in the past," said der Vrijer.

The National Authority of Energy Regulation (ANRE) announced in late June a calendar of price increases, but did not include any changes in the current year.

The ANRE laid out 10 percent household gas price rises in 2013 and 2014, while between 2015-2018 prices are to rise by 12 percent annually, adjusted quarterly. The liberalization energy market will begin in September this year for industrial customers.

ANRE originally planned to increase prices by 8 percent from July 1 this year and a further 2 percent in October 2013.

On January 1 gas prices for businesses increased by 5 percent, but prices for households remained at 2011 levels. ANRE said the increase was due higher prices for imported gas.

Ioana Toader, ioana.toader@romania-insider.com

(photo source: sxc.hu)