Energy regulator might set water and sewerage charges

The responsibility for fixing the water and sewerage charges may be shifted from the local public authorities to the National Agency for Energy Regulation. The Government approved a relevant legislative initiative put forward by Liberal-Democrat lawmaker Alexandru Cimbriciuc, Info-Prim Neo reports. Environment Minister Gheorghe Salaru said the local public authorities do not adjust the charges on time, endangering thus the functioning of the water suppliers. The approved charges do not cover all the costs incurred by the companies. In fact, the local public authorities do not have specialists who could do the calculations on the basis of the real price of these services. Besides, the process of approving the water and sewerage charges by the local public administrations is highly politicized, said Gheorghe Salaru. The minister also said that the sewerage and water supply strategy for 2008 – 2015 envisions the creation of infrastructure that requires considerable investment. The money cannot be attracted owing to the tariff policy that endangers the solvency of the water suppliers. If the national energy regulator sets the charges according to a transparent methodology, national and foreign companies would want to invest in this sector, stated Gheorghe Salaru.