Gas: the reference price will increase by 5,6% on September 1st

The benchmark gas selling price will increase by 5,6% on September 1st compared to the previous month, according to the Energy Regulatory Commission. It will reach an average of €172,05 including VAT per megawatt-hour, due to rising prices on the wholesale markets.

Approximately six million households, representing nearly 60% of residential gas subscribers, are likely to be affected. These are consumers who have subscribed to a plan indexed to this reference price. Households with a fixed-price contract will not be immediately affected by this increase.

The conflict in the Middle East is causing stocks to surge

Since the abolition of regulated tariffs, the benchmark price published monthly by the Energy Regulatory Commission serves as a reference for suppliers and allows consumers to compare offers. The authority states that the increase planned for September is entirely linked to changes in gas prices on the markets.

The conflict in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have severely disrupted global hydrocarbon supplies. This strategic waterway usually carries approximately 20% of global liquefied natural gas exports. Since the start of the war, the Dutch TTF index, the benchmark for the European market, has risen by more than 93%, from around €31,96 to €61,70 per megawatt-hour.