Chisinau authorities seek to reverse ruling in Termocom’s favour

The Chisinau City Hall appealed the Chisinau Economic Court’s judgment of December 14 ordering the city authorities to pay the heat supplier Termocom 149 million lei – the City’s outstanding debt for the difference in heating tariffs. Chisinau Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca said at Monday’s City Hall meeting that the reason for appealing the judgment was the overeagerness of the court to pronounce it. The judgment was pronounced in such a hurry, that it leaves room for doubt, the mayor explained. According to him, Termocom keeps insisting that the City Hall still owes it 150 million lei, even though the tariff was annulled. “They want to force the City Hall into insolvency, but I don’t think they will succeed”, the mayor said. The mayor reminded that this summer’s assessment of Termocom’s expenses revealed that some costs were artificially overpriced. This is why, Chirtoaca said, the sum owed by the city authorities in subsidies for the distribution of heat should be much lower than 150 million lei. Termocom said in a press release that it disrupted hot water supply in the city due to lack of money for purchases of natural gas, water, electricity and heat needed for the functioning of the distribution system. Termocom’s manager Dionisie Antocel urged the City Hall to comply with the judgment and pay at least 30-40 million lei, with a subsequent debt rescheduling to be decided at the negotiation table. The conflict between Termocom and the City Hall emerged after the Chisinau City Council annulled on December 4 the tariff of 540 lei for heat. In response, the heat distributor halted hot water supplies in the city.