After the natural gas rates were increased, the electricity rates are also expected to be raised. Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Spînu said that it would be a rise of up to 3 lei in the best case. He noted that the rise is inevitable as the electricity tariff in the region is 4-5 times higher than in the Republic of Moldova. The higher rate will start to be applied on April 1, 2022, IPN reports.
Minister of Understructure and Regional Development Andrei Spînu said that tender contests to choose companies that will supply electrical energy were announced as the current contracts expire at the end of this March. In the current regional context, the maintaining of the current electricity rate is highly improbable.
“The Government’s interest is to offer the best prices of energy resources for our citizens. The tender contests are underway. There was adopted a law that obliges those who hold tender contests to buy electricity from at least two sources so as to ensure diversity. If we look at the electricity prices in the neighboring country, we can see that they are much higher than the price we pay now under the contract with the Kuchurgan power plant. For example, the contract stipulates US$54 per 1 megawatt, while in Romania the price is US$220-260,” Andrei Spînu stated in the program “Secrets of the Power” on JurnalTV channel.
He noted that the National Agency for Energy Regulation will soon take a final decision about the new electricity tariff. Representatives of the Government are having talks with representatives of the Kuchurgan power plant on the supply of power at the current price of 5.35 cents per kWh during one more year, until April 2023.
“A final decision will be taken next week at the latest even if we have time until the end of March. The tariff of 3 lei is an optimistic scenario. The tariff in the region is now 4-5 times higher than our current tariff. In the discussions with representatives of the Kuchurgan plant, there is openness and we are waiting for confirmation. But we realize the current context and expect different scenarios. I hope everyone will act reasonably and, in the current regional context, we will take the best decisions,” stated Andrei Spînu.
Back in January, Premier Energy requested the National Agency for Energy Regulation to increase the electric power rate from 1.51 lei to 2.78 lei. Also, FEE Nord asked to raise the tariff by 50% so as to be able to cover the real costs. Later, the Agency proposed its own calculations for public consultations, suggesting a rise to 1.92 lei for Premier Energy and to 2.25 lei for FEE Nord.
