Moldovan energy agency to consider applications on increase in electricity, gas rates

Chisinau, 30 March /MOLDPRES/- The National Agency of Regulation of Energy (ANRE) has informed that it would consider operators' applications on approving new rates, during a public meeting on 10 April.

The Gas Natural Fenosa company demanded an increase in electricity price "by at least 50 per cent", starting from 1 April, up to an average of 2.30 lei. The tariff for the residents, requested by the electric energy provider, is 2.58 lei per 1 KW/hour, up by 1 leu against the rates currently paid by household consumers.

"The company is put in a position not to be able to pay for energy acquisitions, with the debts reaching 1 billion 472 million lei, which we have covered with our own sources and credits", Gas Natural Fenosa company's head Silvia Radu has said.

While setting the electricity rate in May 2012, an exchange rate of 11.83 lei for 1 US dollar was taken into account. The official quotation announced by the National Bank of Moldova is currently over 18.5 lei per 1 US dollar.

The Moldovagaz company gas supplier asked for an increase in gas rates by 48 per cent on average, from the current level of 5,666 lei for 1,000 cubic metres of gas up to 8,386 lei. The company reasoned the request by the significant depreciation of the Moldovan leu against the U.S. dollar and increase in purchase price of gas calculated in Moldovan lei, decrease in gas volumes and increase in consumption and operational costs of gas enterprises.

The rates requested by the RED Nord and RED Nord-Vest electricity distribution companies will be discussed within public consultations organised by ANRE on 31 March.

The gas and electricity rates have been last time updated in September 2011 and respectively, May 2012, according to ANRE.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor A. Răileanu)