The population will not be able to pay the new natural gas, electric power and heat charges, the representative of trade unions Ana Moldovanu said during the public meeting where the National Agency on Energy Regulation (ANRE) approved the new tariffs, Info-Prim Neo reports. She said the salaries in Moldova are low. According to the statistical data, about 100,000 salary earners had salaries lower than the minimum subsistence level of 1,085 lei on September 1, 2009. More than 76,000 persons are out of work. The salary arrears in the real sector are high. The owners of 2-3 room apartments will have to pay 1,000- 1,500 lei for public utilities a month during the autumn-winter season. Independent economic analyst Visarion Cesuev said the new rises in charges will be followed by increases in the prices of services and most important goods. Nicolae Mogoreanu, the head of the Energy Consumers Association, said the charges were to be adjusted long ago, but the authorities preferred populist measures. “The former administration of the ANRE did not take the necessary steps. We hope the present administration will be more independent and will pay greater attention to our opinions,” Mogoreanu said. The ANRE decided that the people who consume less than 30 cubic meters of gas a month will pay 3.57 lei per cubic meter, as against 3.06 lei at present, while those who consumer more than 30 cubic meters of gas a month will pay 3.99 lei, as opposed to 3.42 lei. The clients of RED Union Fenosa will pay 1.33 lei for electric power, in contrast to 1.10 lei at present, while RED Nord and RED Nord-Vest – 1.43 lei, as against 1.20 lei at present. 1 gigacalorie of heat supplied by Termocom will cost 699 lei, as against 540.88 lei at present. ANRE director general Victor Parlicov said a part of the population might not be able to pay the new tariffs, but the Agency does not deal with social protection. It is the Government and other authorities that must formulate methods for supporting the population.