The payments for heat are at a higher level than the previous years, but they are 3-4 months overdue, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar. According to Valeriu Lazar, the work of the heat suppliers is thus affected as they cannot plan their activities, while the legislation does not provide levers for influencing the consumers. ”The legislation says the debts for heat can be paid throughout the year. This is normal if we take into account the people’s incomes and the fact that the payments for heat during the cold season are a real burden for most of the families. But we must also consider the interests of the heat suppliers. The companies do not have money for repair works and for replacing the damaged pipes. These measures are for the end-users’ benefit as they are aimed at improving the quality of services,” said Valeriu Lazar. The Ministry of Economy is drafting amendments to the legislation, whereby the consumers supplied with heat in a centralized way will be obliged to pay at least 40% of the consumed heat in the cold season, while the rest during the year. “We will submit the amendments to the Government so that they could be discussed in one of the coming meetings that will center on the preparation of the energy sector and national economy for activity in the 2011- 2012 autumn-winter period,” stated Valeriu Lazar. A plan to restructure the thermoenergy system in Chisinau municipality, which was worked out with the support of the World Bank, will be presented in September. It envisions the patrimonial, organizational and managerial restructuring of the system so as to make it attractive for investments.