The Energy Community Secretariat welcomes the Moldovan Regulatory Authority (ANRE) Board’s decision of July 18 to increase the electricity and gas tariffs to end-consumers towards more cost reflective prices and adopting tariffs for access to electricity distribution networks, IPN reports, quoting the ANRE’s press service.
The ANRE makes reference to the information published on the Energy Community Secretariat’s website, which says that the adjustment of the electricity end-user tariffs was necessary to avoid a possible security of supply crisis, escalated by the recent depreciation of the Moldovan currency.
The Secretariat’s Deputy Director Dirk Buschle said: “ANRE’s decision constitutes a necessary pre-condition for stabilizing Moldova's energy sector, but further, more fundamental reform steps will need to follow.”
The adoption of tariffs for access to electricity distribution networks intends to rectify the failure to comply with its obligations under Directive 2009/72/EC concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity.
In May 2015, the Energy Community Secretariat sent an opening letter to the Regulator initiating a preliminary procedure for failure to adopt the distribution tariffs applicable to all eligible customers, including suppliers.
Following the July 18 decision of the ANRE, the electricity tariffs were raised by almost 40%, while the natural gas tariffs – by 15%.