The number of Chisinau inhabitants who no longer want to be supplied with heat in a centralized way has increased. As many as 1 289 apartments have been disconnected from the centralized heating system until October 11, as against 783 apartments throughout 2010. Termocom SA spokeswoman Iuliana Bogushevski has told Info-Prim Neo that if the number of disconnections increases, the centralized heating system will be in danger. “It is not excluded that we will reach the critical level as in Balti. In several years, we may be forced to close down the centralized heating system,” she said. The massive disconnection of apartments from the centralized heating system started in 2001. More than 5,000 apartments had been disconnected annually in 2003-2004. Among the causes were the non-provision of hot water and the poor quality of the heat supply. The people who had the possibility of installing an alternative heating source set up autonomous boilers. After 2005, when the quality of the heat supply was improved, the number of applications for disconnection decreased significantly, but began to rise again in 2011. “The consumers already argue that they do not have sufficient financial resources to pay for heat. Both the local and the central authorities should intervene and deal with this problem as the compensations for heat do not cover the necessities,” said Iuliana Bogushevski. She also said that most of those who now ask to be disconnected from the centralized heating system are unable to install alternative heating sources. “Thus, there may be cases of frostbite or other regrettable situations,” said the spokeswoman for the heat supplier Termocom.