Moldovan energy regulator recommends consumers notify it on gas consumption differences between invoices and gas meter

Chisinau, 19 January /MOLDPRES/-The National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) recommends that consumers notify the gas provider or ANRE if they notice a difference between the data in the invoice and data shown by their gas meter, in order to settle the problem.

More consumers complained of a difference between the data in the invoice and data shown by their gas meter during the winter months, when the gas consumption and invoices are considerably increasing.

ANRE took notice of the statement acting Prime Minister Gheorghe Brega made last week, in the light of more petitions citizens had submitted the government, complaining that they must pay for additional gas consumption every month.

ANRE notes that the regulation on the supply and use of natural gas does not provide for including an additional amount of gas in the invoices that are to be paid by citizens. According to it, the provider shall issue an invoice based on the amount of natural gas used by the consumer and registered by the gas meter. To this effect, the provider shall also take into the account the natural gas tariff, approved by ANRE and published in Moldova’s Official Journal.

ANRE also states that the provider is entitled to issue invoices based on estimated calculations of the gas consumption for a period of time no longer than two months, if there is no access to the gas meter in order to see the gas consumption indicators. Also, the network operator must contact the end consumer in order to ensure his access to the gas meter. If the consumer fails to react to the network operator’s request, the latter is entitled to confirm this fact in a document and disconnect the consumer from the gas installations, in compliance with the provisions of the above-mentioned regulation.

(Reporter V. Bercu, Editor M. Jantovan)