National energy regulator to set water tariffs

The MPs on March 30 passed in the first reading a bill whereby the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) is empowered to set the water tariffs in municipalities, towns and districts, Info-Prim Neo reports. The author of the legislative initiative, Democratic MP Alexandru Cimbriciuc said that setting the water and sewerage charges at the local level is problematic as the process is largely politicized. The local public authorities do not approve the water tariffs on time and the work of the water suppliers is thus endangered. As a result, they sustain larger losses. Alexandru Cimbriciuc also said that the approved tariffs do not cover all the costs of the suppliers. The local public authorities do not have skilled specialists who could analyze the costs of the service providers and propose justified tariffs for approval. Liberal MP Valeriu Munteanu said that the existing problem must be solved, but the identified solution should not be implemented in an imperative way. The local public administration should be able to take decisions to pass this power to the ANRE. The leader of the group of Socialists Igor Dodon warned that a number of problems may appear after the adoption of this bill, including the rise in water charges. The bill was adopted in the first reading by a majority of votes, but a number of MPs said they will propose amendments to it in the second reading.