Ahead of the 2026–2027 heating season, the Ukrainian energy market is discussing the adjustment of price caps on electricity. According to experts, the country should expect expensive electricity imports from European countries this winter, and the current price ceiling may need to be revised to keep imports economically affordable for Ukrainian operators. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a statement by Daria Orlova from ExPro Electricity.
Expensive Imports from Central and Eastern Europe
As Orlova notes, tariffs are at a high level in neighboring countries from which Ukraine traditionally purchases electricity. "There is expensive electricity there. Electricity is expensive in Slovakia, it is expensive in Hungary, well, Poland, not much was imported from there. Therefore, we must expect that electricity imports will be very expensive this winter," the expert stated. According to her, the combination of high European tariffs and limited supply volumes from certain directions creates the risk of rising import costs for Ukraine in the upcoming winter period.
The Romania Factor and Nuclear Generation Problems
The expert named the situation with nuclear generation in Romania as an additional factor capable of driving up import prices. Due to problems at nuclear facilities, this country currently has less cheap electricity for export, which reduces the volume of low-cost resources available on the regional market. Under such conditions, according to Orlova's assessment, the cost of imports for Ukraine may increase, and the current price ceiling may require adjustment. "Perhaps price caps will be reviewed so that this import flows in," she said, pointing to the direct link between the level of price caps and the possibility of physically delivering electricity.
Price Caps as a Market Mechanism, Not the Cause of Price Growth
Earlier, Andrian Prokop, head of energy programs at the Ukrainian Institute of the Future, emphasized that the revision of price caps is not the cause of price growth, but a reaction to changing market conditions. According to him, if Ukrainian price caps lag behind European ones, the opportunities for commercial electricity imports shrink: foreign suppliers find it unprofitable to sell resources below their own market benchmarks. Thus, adjusting the ceiling is viewed as a tool to maintain the competitiveness of imports, rather than an independent factor of price increases for the end consumer.
Position of Specialized Agencies and Experts
The issue of revising price caps is also being raised at the level of specialized structures. The head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Energy and Housing and Communal Services previously urged a review of price caps, citing the fact that current values already limit electricity import capabilities. A similar assessment was given by a number of experts, pointing out that understated price caps could pose a threat to Ukraine's energy security during periods of peak demand. The combination of these statements indicates that adjusting the price ceiling before winter is becoming one of the key discussed decisions in the electricity market.
