More than 22,000 apartments in Romania were disconnected from the centralized heating systems in 2016, most of the owners opting for individual heating systems to cut costs, according to a statement from Ariston Thermo Romania, the leader of the local market for household heating systems and electric boilers.

The gas heater remains the most popular heating system among Romanians, according to Catalin Draguleanu, country manager Ariston Thermo Romania. Romanians mainly chose to install individual heating systems to cut costs, but also because they have realized that this kind of system can bring them a certain level of comfort and independence, Draguleanu explains.

In the last five years, some 215,000 apartments were disconnected from the centralized heating systems. However, the number of disconnections dropped from over 62,300 in 2012, to some 52,000 in 2013, around 30,000 in 2014, over 47,700 in 2015, and only 22,375 in 2016.

At present, nine counties in Romania no longer have centralized heating systems, according to Ariston Thermo Romania, citing data from the National Regulation Authority for the Public Utilities Community Services (ANRSC).

Based on the number of disconnections, Galati county ranks first with 3,833 homes disconnected from the centralized heating system last year (over 43,800 in the last five years), followed by Constanta county with slightly over 3,000 homes disconnected in 2016 (over 13,800 in the last five years).

The ranking continues with Timis county – 2,294 homes disconnected from the centralized heating system in 2016, Hunedoara county – 2,185, and Valcea – 1,356.

Bucharest has the second largest central heating system in the world

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com