Gas gets dearer

The natural gas charge for end-users will rise by 12.2% on average, from 4,098 to 4,599 lei per 1,000 cubic meters of gas. A decision to this effect was taken by the national energy regulator ANRE on January 26. The public gas utility Moldovagaz is dissatisfied and demands that the charge be increased by 18%, Info-Prim Neo reports. The charge for monthly consumption of up to 30 cubic meters of gas will increase by 16%, while for consumption of over 30 cubic meters of gas – by 13.4%. The rise for the thermoelectric power plants (CETs) is of 15.5%, for companies connected to high pressure gas networks – of 10.1%, for those connected to medium pressure networks – of 5.4%, while for those connected to low pressure networks – of 7.6%. SA Moldovagaz did the calculations on the basis of the old methodology adopted in 2008 and said the gas charge should be increased by 18% on average. The difference between this methodology and the new one that was published in the Official Gazette last week resides in the calculation of the technological consummator and losses in the gas distribution networks. Moldovagaz president Alexandr Gusev said they sued the ANRE because it approved the new calculation methodology without taking into account the interests of the public gas utility. For his part, ANRE director general Victor Parlicov said the court did not ask for the Agency’s opinion, while the decision whereby the new methodology was suspended did not reach them. On the basis of the new natural gas charges, the ANRE calculated and approved the tariffs on the electric power and heat supplied by CETs to end-users. The new tariffs approved for the CETs come into force on February 1. CET-2 director general Alexandru Comarov said the new tariffs could have been higher so that they cover companies’ costs, but the consumers should also not be neglected. The tariffs at Termocom have not been adjusted yet.