Energy bills under pressure — Government to receive ESM calculations by mid-November

Electricity and heating costs in North Macedonia are under renewed pressure as international energy markets climb. Companies that provide district heating have again filed requests with the Energy Regulatory Commission (RKE) to raise prices — a move that would mark a third increase this year — while the state power company ESM is completing cost summaries that the Government will use to decide whether the current household rate of 65 euros per megawatt will change.

Energy Minister Sanja Bozhinovska said the ministry is monitoring the financial consequences and that ESM is already negotiating longer-term and more competitive supply contracts to secure lower prices. "We will see what financial implications ESM will have; it already has negotiations for longer-term and more competitive supply, in other words to obtain lower prices," she said.

Market pressures and winter worries

The upward pressure comes as oil recently traded well above $100 per barrel and gas prices approached about 100 euros per megawatt on European markets, with electricity wholesale prices also rising. Officials say inventories are sufficient for now, but ministers across Europe have warned that persistent price pressure may leave millions unable to adequately heat their homes this winter.

European Commissioner for Energy Den Jorgensen told ministers at a recent meeting that the coming winter will be difficult for many: "So today we have a very important meeting where, among other things, of course, we will discuss the upcoming winter. For many European citizens it will be difficult, we know that very well. In an average year some 50 million Europeans, unfortunately, cannot adequately heat their homes because of high energy prices in Europe. This year that number will probably be higher," he said.

ESM has begun to consolidate its purchase and operating costs and plans to deliver detailed calculations to the Government by mid-November. The executive will then decide whether to keep the current 65 euros per megawatt for households or to allow an increase. At the same time, the RKE must set new transmission and distribution tariffs and decide whether district heating will rise again.

Recent procurement figures show volatility: for November ESM bought gas at almost 90 euros per megawatt-hour, while in the summer — in August — the price was about 60 euros per megawatt-hour. Authorities say they will weigh those dynamics alongside domestic affordability when forming any measures.

Photo: press material from the event