Moldovan energy regulator to update thermal energy tariff till beginning of new heating season

Chisinau, 13 September /MOLDPRES/ - The National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE) has postponed a decision on demand to increase tariffs, received from Moldelectrica, till the beginning of the heating season, after ANRE considers the costs submitted by the electric and thermal energy supplier.   

Termoelectrica demanded that ANRE increases the tariff for producing electric energy by 12.3 per cent and the tariff for the thermal energy supplied to consumers by 27.4 per cent. The demand is reasoned by a significant rise in the costs of generating and supply of electricity and thermal energy, following the last adjusting of tariffs in October 2011.     

After today’s public discussions on Termoelectrica’s demand, ANRE’s representatives said the tariffs for thermal energy had not been changed for five years, and meanwhile, the Methodology of thermal energy supply was approved and the enterprises Termocom, CET-1 and CET-2 (thermal electric power stations 1 and 2) were reorganized. Thus, the institution is to decide on new tariffs for electric and thermal energy till the beginning of the next heating season.     

“Corrections and adjusting are possible to be carried out and probably the tariff will be lower than the one demanded by Termoelectrica. New tariffs will be set till the beginning of the new heating season; yet, anyway, there will be increases,” an ANRE representative, Alexandru Mija, has said.  

“The price for fuel increased by 16.4 per cent, the electric energy supplied by Union Fenosa – by 38.1 per cent, amortization of fixed assets has increased following the merger, the prices for materials and the exchanged rate are much higher. Also, the salary has grown in the real sector,” the Termoelectrica director-general, Veaceslav Eni, said. He added that the increase in tariffs was a condition set by the World Bank for being able to sign an Agreement.  

“We are negotiating with Moldovagaz and the World Bank for signing an agreement, which will lead to the diminution of tariffs and costs. We have a historical debt of 2.6 billion lei. We have signed a memorandum on rescheduling this debt during 15 years. We made a business plan for 35 years, in order to be able to assume the payment of all debts. Yet, the World Bank’s conditions are not to accumulate debts to Moldovagaz and adjust the tariffs,” the Termoelectrica director has said.  

Presently, the electric energy tariff is 987 lei for one Gcal. Termoelectrica was set up in June 2015 following the process of reorganization of three earlier existing entities: Termocom, CET-1 and CET-2.   

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor A. Raileanu)