Moldovan Energy Regulatory Authority suspends approving new electricity, natural gas rates for 60 days

Chisinau, 3 September /MOLDPRES/ - The Board Of Directors of the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) has ruled to suspend its decisions from 18 July 2015 on the approval of regulated tariffs for distribution and supply of electricity and natural gas for a period of 60 days,  at a meeting today. On 18 July, the electricity rates increased by 30-37 per cent and the natural gas ones - by 15.4 per cent.

Under its decision, the Board recommended that operators of electricity networks and gas organise, within that period, an audit by selecting world-renowned specialized companies to check the quantum of the new tariffs calculated by operators and the correctness of these calculations.

While approving its decision, the ANRE Board of Directors took into consideration a request by the National Confederation of Trade Unions, a recommendation of the Supreme Security Council, as well as several thousands of applications with the same request, received from residents.

ANRE states that the purpose of the external audit is to remove all suspicions, made public, on the solidity of the decisions by the Board from 18 July 2015 on the approval of new tariffs for electricity and natural gas and correctness of the calculation of these charges.

After the external audit is over, the Board will consider the submitted evaluations, after which, depending on the results, it will return to its decisions from 18 July 2015 on the approval of new tariffs for electricity and natural gas.

The Energy Community Secretariat on 15 August expressed concern both about the delay in adopting the ANRE budget for 2015 by the parliament, and the intention to revise the charges, due to be made. Failure to observe the reflectivity of the electricity cost poses a serious risk to the country's energy security. The social impact of this decision should be addressed in a way that will not endanger the security of supply, the Energy Community Secretariat added.

(Reporter V. Bercu, Editor L. Alcaza)