National energy regulator to set water charges

The parliamentary commission on economy, budget and finance endorsed the bill whereby it is suggested authorizing the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) to fix the water and sewerage charges, Info-Prim Neo reports. The commission’s head Veaceslav Ionita said that investment is needed for increasing access to drinking water. But it is impossible to attract investments until the fixing of tariffs is politicized. He also said that the water charge is now set by different local authorities in a non-transparent way, depending on the electoral period. The MP referred especially to the situation in Chisinau. “Discussions are now held about the water meters, losses and quality of the water. We hope the situation will be remedied. The losses of electricity before regulation were 32%, but now fell to 10%. The losses in the heating system also decreased,” said Veaceslav Ionita. “In order to avoid the creation of a new agency with a large budget that would regulate the water charges, the National Agency for Energy Regulation can be empowered to do it.” Mihai Severovan, chairman of the Public Services Employers Association of Moldova, also said that the tariffs have been politicized. “The commission‘s decision shows that we go towards reforms. This way we will be able to attract investments to the field,” he stated. The former Chisinau councilor also said that the Wastewater Treatment Station in the capital city is in need of repair, but no investor is willing to provide money as they understand that they would invest in a service where more is spent than earned. If Parliament passes it, the law will come into force on July 1.