Energy experts say gas tariffs likely to be cut by at least 14 per cent

Chisinau, 1 February /MOLDPRES/- Energy experts today said that the gas rates should be cut by at least 14 per cent. The National Energy Regulatory Agency’s (ANRE) administrative board approved a tariff reduction by 10.9 per cent at a meeting on 26 January. 

“The acquisition price for gas, accounting for 80 per cent of the tariff, fell by 14 per cent, and if we take into account cancellation of an amendment to the legislation, which led to an almost ten-fold cut in the gas tariff, the rate for the end consumers was to decrease by over 10.9 per cent," a moderator of economic policies of the Institute for Policies and European Reforms, Sergiu Tofilat, said.

The tariff structure was not published. Therefore, “I cannot say which tariff should be and whether financial deviations were included in the latter or not,” IDIS Viitorul expert Victor Parlicov said.

The experts complained ANRE that the rates had been approved at a closed meeting, and so the consumers’ rights had been violated. The experts said they would submit a petition to the Prosecutor General's Office on actions by the ANRE’s Administrative Board, and at the same time, they would notify the parliament, the parliamentary commission on economy, budget and finance, as well as the European Energy Community.

The ANRE’s decision on an almost 11-per cent cut in the gas rates entered into force on 1 February.

Thus, the household consumers monthly consuming up to 30 cubic meters (inclusively) for a flat (house) will pay 5.89 lei per 1 cubic meter, less by 10.1 per cent, and the residents monthly consuming over 30 cubic meters will play 6.14 lei. Thus, the rates fell below the level of September 2011. A 8-per cent value added tax is applied when supplying gas to end consumers.

While setting the new gas rates, ANRE took into account the acquisition price for gas of 199.72 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters in 2016, down by 60.57 dollars against 2015.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor L. Alcaza)