Moldovan energy regulator informs about public discussions on approving tariffs for water supply public service

Chisinau, 15 May /MOLDPRES/ – The National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) announced for 16 May public debates regarding the applications for tariff approval for the public water supply, sewage and waste water service, received from Apa-Canal Chisinau (ACC) company and the municipal water company Ungheni Canal.

According to the request submitted by the water supplier in the capital, it demands for tariffs for households to be increased by more than 25 per cent, from 9.19 lei per cubic metre of water to 11.75 lei. Also, an increase in tariffs for non-household consumers is required from 22.96 lei to 25.52 lei per cubic metre of water.

ACC water authority argues its request to raise tariffs by increasing the projected expenditures for 2017. When approving the proposed tariffs, the bill for a medium-sized household will increase from the actual 67.64 lei/month, up to 86,48 lei/month.

The water supplier in the capital suffered financial losses amounting 81.1 million lei in 2016, and in 2015 – 147.6 million lei. Without adjusting the tariffs to real costs, ACC can not benefit from a credit of about €65 million for the rehabilitation of 200 km of water and sewerage networks in Chisinau within the Priority Investment Program financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the EU.

For inhabitants of Ungheni, the increase could be made only for individuals. Thus, consumers who pay a common tariff (water plus sewage) could have an increase of 10.41 lei up to 23.36 lei for cubic metre of water.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor M. Jantovan)