Gas Natural Fenosa will insist on raising the electricity charges for end-users by 14% even if the state-run power distribution networks RED Nord and RED Nord-Vest will not make relevant requests to the energy regulator ANRE, the company’s president Silvia Radu said in a program on Radio Moldova, IPN reports.

According to Silvia Radu, Gas Natural Fenosa last year made investments of 286 million lei, 85% of which in the rehabilitation and modernization of the power distribution sector. The need to recoup these investments and the rise in the purchase price of electricity from the producers as well as the increase in the power transportation tariff justify the request made by the company to the ANRE on March 22. They asked increasing the charges for the end-users connected to the low voltage power lines, including the household users.

In the same program, Vadim Ceban, division head at the Economy Ministry, said that most of the household users need 2-3 years to adapt themselves and will be now unable to pay higher charges. As a result, the power consumption will reduce and this will negatively affect the power distributor and Moldova’s economic development. The state-run power distribution networks in northern Moldova will not request raising charges, at least until the end of this year.

ANRE director general Victor Parlicov said the problem must be examined thoroughly and they should not forget how the power supply was disconnected for 10 hours a day several years ago. “The coming of a foreign investor to the energy sector was beneficial, including for the REDs. Competition led to the solving of a number of problems faced in the sector, including the power losses. Large debts are no longer accumulated. The factors favor the attraction of new investors,” he stated, adding that Gas Natural Fenosa’s request will be examined in a transparent way.

Currently, the household users supplied by Gas Natural Fenosa pay 1.58 lei/kWh of power.