The total number of natural gas household customers in Romania is approximately 4,000,000, and to reach their homes, natural gas follows an long route. It is extracted and processed by producers who, in addition, compress it to the optimal parameters for transport networks and for consumption. From the producer, the gas is transported into the distribution networks by the distribution operator that ensures the maintenance of the networks and the parameters allowing the circulation of the gas. The distributor receives the odorized gas especially for the consumption of customers, through the distribution networks. The distribution operator also has the role of maintaining and modernizing networks, installing pipelines, reading gas meters and responding to breakdowns, as well as connecting new consumers.
The supplier is the one who purchases the gas needed by consumers from the wholesale market. It ensures that it has in storages the necessary volumes for consumption peaks, concludes supply contracts with customers and also establishes contracts with all those involved in the gas circuit, paying for their services.
How to read the bill for natural gas
In the case of natural gas, the final price billed to household customers is capped at 0.31 kWh/month between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2025, regardless the level of consumption. The bill reflects the complicated journey of gas from producer to consumer. Of the total price of the gas bill, the production part is about 60%, to which are added the costs of transport and distribution. The supplier charges only 0.012 lei/kWh (the value of the supply cost established by the legislation in force), money from which it covers costs such as those with staff, customer relations centers, invoicing and sending invoices, with IT systems.
Gas consumption measurement
One of the most common problems is to understand the amount of natural gas billed, given that natural gas consumption is measured in cubic meters (mc) and payment is made in kWh. When calculating the total payment, it also matters a lot the higher calorific value (kWh/mc) of the supplied natural gas. To convert your consumption from mc to kWh, a mathematical formula is applied and you can find in the invoice: Natural gas energy [kWh] is Volume of natural gas consumed [mc] x Higher calorific power (Pcs) [kWh/mc]. The invoice shows the invoiced quantity in cubic meters, but also its equivalent in kWh.
The higher calorific value of natural gas indicates the total energy released by the complete combustion, in air, of a specified amount of natural gas. It is important in calculating energy units, because you can burn more or less gas depending on this calorific value.
Gas consumption monitoring
Distribution operators read natural gas meters once every three months. In parallel, for a good long-term control of the bill, the best solution for consumers is to read the meter monthly and transmit the index through the channels indicated by the suppliers on the bill. In this way, the invoice will always contain the amount of gas actually consumed. The self-reading index can be submitted online or by phone, and the period during which the index can be submitted is set by the supplier and is specified on the natural gas bill, in the section “Information required for submitting the self-reading”.