The National Agency for Energy Regulation postponed the meeting set for today, in which it was to approve the new electricity rates, to February 23, IPN reports.

The company “Premier Energy” on January 10 asked to increase the electric power rate from 1.51 lei/kWh to 2.79 lei /kWh. It made reference to the higher power supply price approved for the central supplier “Energocom” and to the evolution of power selling prices on the market in Ukraine.

For its part, the power distributor operating in northern Moldova “Furnizarea Energiei Electrice Nord” (FEE Nord) on January 24 requested to increase the rates by about 50%, to 2.45 lei/kWh for end users connected to medium voltage powers lines and to 3.06 lei/kWh for those connected to low voltage powers lines.

Asked if the Government will offer subsidies for electric power consumption, Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița earlier said that a decision will be taken depending on the rates that will be approved by NAER. “We shall first see these rates and conduct analyses so as to decide if we can provide subsidies for electricity too. We hope we will not have to,” stated the official.