National energy regulator to set electric power and heat charges

The electric power and heat charges will be fixed by the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE), not by the local authorities as until present. Moreover, the Agency's budget and the composition of its Administration Board will be approved by the Parliament, not by the Government. Such a decision was adopted by the MPs at Thursday's sitting in two readings by 55 votes - 53 votes of the members of the Alliance for European Integration and two votes of the unaffiliated MPs. The Communist faction did not vote, arguing they do not understand why the ANRE should be subordinate to the legislature, not to the executive. “Isn't this an attempt to shift the responsibility for the heat changes from the local authorities onto the Parliament?” asked Communist MP Igor Dodon. He said such a move will lead to the rise in charges with no monitoring. Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar said the modifications give the energy regulator real independence and eliminate the conflict of interests. The head of the parliamentary commission for economy, budget and finances Veaceslav Ionita said the charges will be fair and objective.