At lower levels compared to last year, the energy costs at the beginning of the winter season for heating oil and the natural gas, while the electric kilowatt hour is slightly more expensive.

However, a source of concern for the course of prices during this winter are the developments in the Middle East and their effects on the international prices of energy products.

According to estimates from the petroleum market, the price of heating oil with today’s data of international prices and the dollar-euro exchange rate is close to 1.11 euros per liter against 1.3-1.35 euros which was the starting price last year October. It is recalled that the availability of heating oil on the market starts every year on October 15. The starting price in October this year will depend on the course of the international market until then.

Weather conditions at least in a large part of the country remain favorable for consumers, but market sources estimate that many may rush to buy heating oil at the start of the season if prices remain at lower levels than last year, in order to avoid possible price increases.

In the field of natural gas, prices are also lower than last year, at 6-7 cents per kilowatt hour (including taxes and regulated charges) from 7-8 cents last year. Electric is at slightly higher levels, reflecting the corresponding developments in wholesale. The average price in September this year was 112.35 euros per megawatt hour compared to 101.95 euros last year, while the retail price (including taxes and other charges) was in October last year close to 24 cents per kilowatt hour, while this year it is close to 26 cents.

A comparison of alternative fuels shows that natural gas is the cheapest source of heating compared to both oil and electricity. However, in many cases central heating has practically been abolished since the crisis period and many households use electricity as a heating source (mainly air conditioners)