Civil society considers Government’s non-involvement in violation of Chisinau consumers’ rights as inadmissible

The League for the Defense of Consumers’ Rights protests against the abusive violation of the rights of the Chisinau consumers following the disconnection of SA Termocom from the natural gas supply by SA Moldova-Gaz and describes the Government’s non-intervention in this case to support the consumers, including as shareholder of Moldova-Gaz as inadmissible, Info-Prim Neo reports. In the press release, the League says that the consumers of the municipality of Chisinau must not be the hostages of a conflict between the Chisinau City Hall and Termocom and Moldova Gaz. It is known that the thermoelectric plants CET-1 and CET-2 also run the risk of being disconnected from the gas supply as they owe over 127 million lei for the consumed gas to Moldova-Gaz. The League for the Defense of Consumers’ Rights is concerned that if the thermoelectric plants are not supplied with gas, all the people connected to the centralized heating system will remain without heat and hot water. The organization says that if the heating charge of 817 lei per Gcal is approved, the heating of a one-room apartment will cost about 500 lei a month, of a two-room apartment – 890 lei, of a three-room apartment – 1,140 lei, while of a four-room apartment – 1,315 lei. So, the socially vulnerable groups of people will have to spend the largest part of the incomes for heat. The League expresses its regret that the higher heating charge proposed for approval is not adequately covered from the municipal budget and the necessary resources were reduced considerably. The League calls on the Chisinau City Hall and Municipal Council to stick to the principles of transparency and openness to the civil society and inform the organizations that are members of the National Council of the consumer protection organizations about the decisions that concern the consumers in due time. It also calls upon the politicians not to endanger the health and rights of the consumers for the sake of political interests. On November 5, SA Moldova-Gaz stopped supplying gas to all the thermoelectric stations that belong to SA Termocom owing to the unpaid debts. The Centru and Buiucani districts and the suburbs of Chisinau remained without heat and hot water.