Moldovan water supplier requests National Energy Regulatory Agency to increase tariffs
15:06 | 20.07.2015 Category: Economic
Chisinau, 20 July /MOLDPRES/ - Chisinau-based water supplier Apa-Canal asked the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) to increase water and sewerage tariffs from 9.19 lei to 14 lei. The capital’s water supplier justifies the request by the sharp depreciation of the leu, in the context of the need to pay back more loans to European banks and higher electricity prices.
The ANRE press service confirmed that the Apa-Canal company filed an application to increase tariffs in the previous week, which is currently "under examination".
ANRE has been entrusted with setting water and sewage tariffs after the law on the public service of water supply and sewage entered into force in 2014. Previously, the tariff was approved by the Chisinau Municipal Council.
Although the water company requested tariff increases in the previous week, the City Hall was informed just today. The director of the enterprise’s customer service, Vladimir Mocreac, said that the last water tariff adjustment was made in 2009. He said that the revision of water charges should occur in the near future for the company to able to operate without disruption.
"You asked for more in order to get less", was Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca's reaction upon finding out about the request to increase the tariff on water and sewage. The mayor warned the administration of the enterprise that they would review their expenses list if they would continue to insist on the tariff increase.
At the end of the previous week, ANRE increased tariffs on electricity supplied by the Gas Natural Fenosa gas and electricity company by approximately 36 per cent, RED Nord and RED Nord-Vest - by about 30 per cent and natural gas tariffs for consumers by 15.4 per cent.
Experts expect that heating companies from Chisinau and Balti, which run on gas, would soon request adjustments of tariffs. Previously, the increase in gas tariffs was also followed by changes in heating tariffs.
(Reporter V. Bercu, Editor L. Alcaza)
