The cold season of 2026–2027 brings to the forefront a common problem for Europeans in several countries: rising heating-related costs, although policy contexts and population responses differ significantly between countries. In Romania, energy analysts warn that despite the state controlling gas prices, indirect inflationary impacts and price increases in electricity and firewood affect household budgets. In France, the situation is characterized by direct fiscal pressure on regulated tariffs and a viral social phenomenon: a rhetorical competition to delay turning on home heating for as long as possible. [1]
In Romania, the scenario for next winter is marked by significant increases in electricity prices. According to expert Corina Murafa, co-founder of the Romanian Observatory of Energy Poverty, bills for those using electricity for heating will likely rise by 20–30%, due to increases from the Day-Ahead Market (PZU). Additionally, the price of wood, used by over 40% of the population, continues to rise, already reaching 100 euros per cubic meter in some areas. Thus, while gas remains an option, the population is not shielded from price hikes, being exposed to a complex chain of financial effects. [1]
Romania's state mechanism for gas price control operates differently than in previous years. A cap is applied to producers' selling prices, followed by limits on commercial markups, resulting in a final consumer price of approximately 0.34 lei per kilowatt-hour. This level represents significant protection given that international prices have tripled. However, Romania is a clear importer of gas (covering 10–15% of its needs via imports at free-market prices), and the funds needed to compensate producers come from the state budget. [1]
The hidden inflationary effect of this pricing policy lies in the industrial sector. Industrial consumers are no longer protected by caps, leading to increased costs for companies dependent on gas, regardless of whether it is for technological processes or space heating. These additional costs are subsequently passed on to the final consumer through the prices of consumer goods. For example, Murafa notes that if bakeries pay three times more for gas, the price of bread will increase, indirectly affecting even those without gas bills. [1]
In France, the struggle to access energy necessary for heating has become an omnipresent topic, reflected also on social media. Users on TikTok and X post humorous videos and messages, launching challenges such as 'the first to turn on heating loses.' This attitude is motivated by prohibitively high costs: gas prices rose consecutively by 5.6% in September, 6.3% in October, and 6.6% in November, with another 5.8% scheduled for early December. Regulated electricity tariffs have also increased on average by 2.5% this summer. [1]
Support for this mythology of thermal resistance on social media is backed by startling statistical reality. According to the latest barometer published by the Médiateur national de l’énergie, 34% of French households have faced difficulties paying energy bills, a modest improvement from 18% in 2020, but still an alarming level. More seriously, among people under 35, the percentage reaches 55%, meaning over half of young people struggle to afford heating money. As a consequence, 72% of households voluntarily reduced heating during last winter, and 35% of the population experienced at least 24 hours of suffering from cold. [1]
Although both central actors (the Romanian state and the French consumer) react differently to energy costs, the regional context indicates widespread economic tension across Europe. In France, energy has become a luxury for many, with 86% of households considering energy a burden on their budget, a record high since 2007. Meanwhile, in Romania, efforts to keep thermal energy prices under control generate significant pressure on public funds and, through indirect effects, on industrial product prices, suggesting that the challenge of energy security and accessibility knows no national borders. [1]
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