Moldovagaz could ask the National Agency for Energy Regulation to increase the household gas rate to 21 lei per cubic meter during the summer. Moldovagaz chairman Vadim Ceban says that, considering the lower consumption levels in the warm season, this could be a solution to offset prices in the winter, when consumption is much higher.

Moreover, wholesale prices at which Moldovagaz buys Russian gas have gone up as well.

“The current rate is based on a wholesale buy price of $620. All the costs of transporting gas to the end consumer, the billing costs, the supplier’s profit add to this buy price. In April-May, the price rose to $1,100. This means that we have to ask for a rate increase. We decided not to do this in March-April because this would have been a blow to consumers. Because in March consumption levels are still high, in April we gradually end the cold season, but in May, June and July household consumption is reduced”, Ceban told a talk show on RTR Moldova.

“We propose a solution that will allow us to ease the burden on consumers, in particular the application of two separate rates over the course of the year. The spring-summer rate should be higher. Under the current conditions, the summer rate should be 21 lei. The price is higher, but the consumption is lower. In October, when the heating period begins, we should go back to the old rate of 15-16 lei”, explained Ceban.

The current household rate is 15.18 lei, VAT included.