The European Energy Community described the vote in Parliament by which the entire Board of Directors of the National Agency for Energy Regulation of Moldovan was dismissed as new violation of the independence of the energy Regulator, IPN reports.
On its website, the Energy Community published a statement saying the Parliament’s decision came after the Regulator adopted distribution tariffs and increased supply prices for end-customers. The latter measures were needed to close an open infringement action initiated by the Secretariat and to ensure cost-reflectivity of the services provided by the energy companies.
This is the second time the Parliament dismissed the top management of the Regulator for purely political reasons after the dismissal of Director Victor Parlicov in July 2013. The Parliament’s actions discredit an institution whose competences and independence are of utmost importance for the fair, transparent and efficient performance of the gas and electricity sectors in the country. It calls into question the commitment by the Republic of Moldova to reform the energy sector and respect the key principles of the Energy Community Treaty
On December 3, the lawmakers dismissed the four directors general of the National Agency for Energy Regulation and abrogated the decisions of 2013 on their appointment. Head of Parliament Andrian Candu commented on this decision, saying he considers it is illegal and will ask the Constitutional Court to pronounce on the issue.
