Ukraine lowers gas storage prices in preparation for winter – new tariffs announced

The National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Public Utilities (NERC) approved on Tuesday a 10% reduction in fees for storing gas in the country's underground storage facilities, aimed at stimulating gas accumulation ahead of the next heating season, the regulator reported, according to UNN.

Details

"On May 26, NERC adopted a series of decisions regarding the transition of JSC Ukrtransgaz to incentive-based regulation in the field of natural gas storage (injection, withdrawal), the establishment of long-term regulation parameters, and new tariffs for the relevant services," the statement reads.

The adopted decisions, as indicated by the regulator, ensure the transition from the "cost-plus" regulation model to multi-year incentive-based regulation in accordance with the new methodology approved by NERC in March 2026.

At the same time, in the context of preparations for the next heating season and in order to create favorable conditions for forming the reserves necessary for a stable winter period, the regulator has reduced the tariff for natural gas storage services

As noted, starting from June 1, 2026, the new tariffs for storage (injection, withdrawal) services will be:

• tariffs for natural gas storage services - in the amount of 0.36 UAH per 1,000 m3 per day (excluding VAT);
• tariffs for natural gas injection services - in the amount of 290.45 UAH per 1,000 m3 per day (excluding VAT);
• tariffs for natural gas withdrawal services - in the amount of 290.45 UAH per 1,000 m3 per day (excluding VAT).

Also, to encourage long-term capacity booking, NERC has reportedly introduced new reduction coefficients that take into account capacity orders for a year (annual capacity, bundled capacity).

The adopted decisions, as noted by the regulator, "form a new model for the operation of the gas storage operator and create prerequisites for long-term activity planning, maintaining the proper technical condition of the infrastructure, and its further development."

According to data on the NERC website, current tariffs are: tariffs for natural gas storage services, UAH per 1,000 cubic meters per day without VAT - 0.40; tariffs for natural gas injection services, UAH per 1,000 cubic meters per day without VAT - 243.52; tariffs for natural gas withdrawal services, UAH per 1,000 cubic meters per day without VAT - 253.03.

In addition, as reported by the regulator, NERC adopted a decision that brings the integration of Ukraine's gas market closer to the EU.

The decision provides for the transition to the allocation of capacity at cross-border interconnections of the gas transmission system in energy units - MWh/day.

At the same time, the rules for capacity booking remain unchanged.

Starting from July 2026, auctions for booking capacity to be used from the beginning of the next gas year - October 1, 2026 - will begin under the updated approach.

The decision is another step towards harmonizing the functioning of Ukraine's natural gas market with EU rules, NERC indicated.

NEURC supported the increase of Ukrenergo tariffs26.05.26, 13:29 • 5092 views