Members and sympathizers of the Party “Action and Solidarity” (PAS) requested the National Agency for Energy Regulation to immediately reduce the natural gas tariff. The request was transmitted during a demonstration staged in front of the Agency’s head office on January 22 after a number of energy experts last week said there are preconditions for decreasing the tariff by 30%, IPN reports.

PAS deputy chairman Mihai Popsoi said the purchase price of natural gas fell by 1/3 during the past two years, but the Agency, as the regulator, didn’t intervene to review the tariff for consumers down, violating thus the price formation methodology. “The Agency does not fulfill its duties. In two years, we, the citizens, have paid over 1.5 billion lei more for the consumed gas. Where does this money go? What does the state do with it?” asked Mihai Popsoi.

According to PAS secretary general Igor Grosu, the fluctuations on the currency market also show that the tariff should be reduced. Two years ago, the dollar cost 22 lei, but now costs about 17 lei. The government is trying to delay the reduction in the natural gas tariff until autumn so as to take such a decision before the election campaign and show thus that it thinks about the people when it actually intends to gain votes. “This is a painful situation as many people cannot pay the gas bills at the end of the month. We do not need electoral alms,” stated Igor Grosu.

The members and sympathizers of the PAS demanded that the Agency should adjust the natural gas tariff without delay.

Currently, household users pay 6.3 lei per cubic meter of gas, including VAT of 8%.