Court to decide who should pay for water losses

The court on November 16 will rule on the Chisinau Municipal Council’s decision to oblige the consumers to pay for the water losses resulting from the difference between the figures on the water meters of the apartment building and those on the individual meters, which was taken two years ago. The given decision was challenged by the State Main Inspectorate for Market Surveillance, Metrology and Consumer Protection following numerous complaints from consumers. “We appealed the decision in October 2010, but the examination of the case was proponed. There were held three hearings. The last one took place on November 7 and a decision is to be passed on November 16. We hope it will be in favor of the consumers. Otherwise, we will appeal to the Court of Appeals,” the Inspectorate’s head Alexandru Cuzimuc has told Info-Prim Neo. Alexandru Cuzimuc considers the Chisinau administration should approve a distinct water charge that would include the costs for installing high precision meters, not the difference in the water meter figures. A week ago, the Chisinau City Hall announced that by a cubic meter of hot and cold water will be additionally included in bills from November in order to compensate for the losses that result from the difference in the consumed volume of water shown by the common meter of the apartment building and the private meters in every apartment. The bills are to rise by about 50 lei. Apa-Canal Chisinau director general Constantin Becciev said the losses sustained by the water supplier total hundreds of millions of lei annually because 95% of the consumers have low precision meters. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, deputy mayor Vlad Cotet said the decision that was challenged in court has not been implemented as many of the consumers refuse to pay and it was thus decided that the mayor general will reiterate this decision by an ordinance.