If heating prices are not adjusted, many heating plants in Serbia could face serious financial problems, including account blockages due to unpaid gas debts. Although the heating season ended successfully with quality service, heating companies are entering a challenging period. Their future depends on whether local governments will approve increases in heating prices.
The heating plants suffered significant financial losses—about six billion dinars in the first quarter of 2025 alone. These losses raise concerns about whether they will be able to continue paying for gas supplied by Srbijagas. The Association of Heating Plants of Serbia is still waiting for final cost data for the past season, so precise figures on how much individual heating prices should increase are not yet available.
Some cities, such as Leskovac and Niš, have already raised prices due to a 27 percent increase in gas prices from October 2024 to February 2025. At that time, district heating prices rose by as much as 19 percent. However, that percentage could now be lower, since gas prices have fallen for 10 consecutive weeks and were around 32 to 35 euros per megawatt-hour in early May.
Leskovac recently approved a nine percent increase in heating prices due to higher gas, coal, and labor costs. Residents who pay based on consumption will see both the fixed and variable parts of their bills increase. For example, those who pay by square meter will now pay 123.42 dinars instead of 113.24 dinars. The average monthly bill for a 50-square-meter apartment will go up by about 500 dinars.
Niš also raised its heating prices. A 5.73 percent increase was approved at the end of January, and another followed in February. The variable portion of the bill increased from 7.48 to 7.84 dinars per kilowatt-hour for March usage. Price regulation allows for adjustments when energy source costs increase by more than three percent, and makes it mandatory if they fall by more than five percent. Niš has strictly followed this rule so far.
Variable heating costs make up about 65 to 70 percent of the total heating price, which strongly influences the final cost to consumers. In addition to energy prices, network fees also affect the total cost, raising the price by another nine to ten percent.
The situation shows the vulnerability of the heating sector to fuel price fluctuations and administrative delays. Without timely adjustments, the financial sustainability of district heating systems across Serbia is at serious risk.
