After the expected rise in the natural gas tariffs, the heat charges in Chisinau may increase by 11%, director general of the National Agency for Energy Regulation Victor Parlicov said in a program on Publika TV, Info-Prim Neo reports. The price of a gigacalorie of heat in the municipality of Chisinau could rise from 821 lei to 910 lei or even 920 lei. In this connection, Victor Parlicov said the residents of Balti town are not richer than the Chisinau inhabitants, but the charges there are higher. In the same program, Chisinau councilor Oleg Cernei, chairman of the public amenities commission, said that the higher heat charges will lead to the disconnection of a number of apartments from the centralized heating system. He said the situation of the municipality of Balti should not serve as an example. In Chisinau, only 11% of the apartments are disconnected from the centralized heating system, while in Balti – 31%. The National Agency for Energy Regulation postponed taking a decision over SA Moldovagaz’s request to increase the natural gas tariffs until Monday, January 24. Moldovagaz demands that the tariffs be raised by 18.2%, while the ANRE said it may accept an increase of 10.8%.