Moldovan consumers to pay by over 10 per cent less for gas starting from 1 February

Chisinau, 1 February /MOLDPRES/- The National Energy Regulatory Agency’s (ANRE) decision on drop by nearly 11 per cent in gas tariffs entered into force on 1 February, after publication in the Official Journal (Monitorul Oficial) last week.

ANRE’s Administration Council approved at the 26 January meeting a decision decreasing by 10.9 per cent the gas rates provided by Moldovagaz company, from 6,222 lei per 1,000 cubic meters to 5,545 lei.

Household consumers monthly consuming up to 30 cubic meters for a flat (house) will pay 5.89 lei per 1 cubic meter, decreasing by 10.1 per cent, and the people monthly consuming over 30 cubic meters – 6.14 lei. Thus the rates fell below the level in September 2011. A 8-per cent Value Added Tax is applied to final consumers for gas supply.

The tariff for gas supply service decreased to 70.74 lei, and the rate for gas transportation fell by 89.9 per cent, from 324.75 lei to 32.76 lei per 1,000 cubic meters.

Decrease in gas rates was determined by two main factors: cut in acquisition price of gas imported from Russia and amendment to the law on gas and methodology for calculating and applying the gas rates, thus ANRE having the right to fully regulate the activity of transportation network operator by setting single rate for transportation service, regardless of destination of gas transportation.

When setting the new gas rates, ANRE took into account the acquisition price of gas for 2016 amounting to 199.72 dollars for 1,000 cubic meters, decreasing by 60.57 dollars in 2015.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor L. Alcază)