Moldovan energy regulatory authority extends time for old electricity, gas tariffs

19:11 | 30.10.2015 Category: Economic

Chisinau, 30 October /MOLDPRES/ - The Administrative Board of the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) today extended the suspension period of its decisions from 17-18 July 2015 on the approval of electricity transportation tariff and electricity and natural gas tariffs. The initial deadline was 1 November 2015.

According to ANRE's decision, the suspension term for electricity tariffs was extended by seven days, until 8 November 2015, and the term for natural gas tariffs has been extended by 14 days, until 15 November 2015. Thus, bills for electricity consumption and natural gas, respectively, will be calculated based on the old tariffs, valid until 31 July 2015.

The decision follows energy license holders’ requests forwarded to ANRE to complete external audit reports on tariff calculations and to organise public debates on these reports. Electricity and natural gas operators were supposed to submit external audit reports to ANRE within 45 days; however, a part of them missed the deadline.

The ANRE administration board on 3 September 2015 ruled to suspend its decisions from 18 July 2015 on the approval of electricity and natural gas distribution and delivery tariffs for a 60-day period of time. ANRE suggested companies hire internationally recognized companies to carry out an external audit and remove all the doubts on the correctness of the calculations of new tariffs.

ANRE raised electricity tariffs for end consumers by 30-37 per cent, and natural gas tariffs by 15.6 per cent, at a meeting on 18 July 2015.

The mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), on a visit to Moldova on 22 September-6 October 2015, ascertained that “the procrastination of the approval of new tariffs causes knock-on losses and arrears in the entire energy sector”. Electricity, natural gas and thermal energy tariffs must be adjusted and enter into force by the beginning of the cold season”. The IMF mission added it was important that socially-vulnerable people receive social aid to cope with the new adjusted tariffs.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor A. Raileanu)

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