The buildings of public institutions, but also new apartment buildings will be compulsorily connected to centralized heating systems. Also, the connection to centralized heating systems will be mandatory, if possible, when buildings are undergoing major renovations with the financial support of the Residential Energy Efficiency Fund. This is provided in a draft law that was approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday, IPN reports.
“The residents of the blocks with rehabilitated horizontal distribution systems, Individual Heat Points and meters per apartment will be able to individually manage the consumption of heat energy. For them, the notion of “heating season” will disappear,” said Minister of Energy Victor Parlicov.
In order to be able to intervene in the internal networks of the block, the energy companies will have to agree, together with the dwellers, the delimitation point of the networks. Currently, this is located on the wall of the block, and the managers of apartment blocks are responsible for the correct and efficient administration of the internal networks. Many institutions of this type are in a state of bankruptcy as they are not able to ensure the level of investment necessary to keep the networks in satisfactory condition.
Another important element introduced by the draft law is the establishment of unitary thermal energy supply areas and the local public authorities will oblige consumers within their coverage area to connect exclusively to centralized heating systems. Their disconnection within the radius of these areas will be prohibited, unless the thermal energy consumption is fully covered with renewable resources.
The thermal energy units could invest in the reconstruction of internal heat distribution systems in blocks to modernize them and make them more efficient, by replacing the vertical Soviet systems with horizontal distribution systems. Also, energy companies will be able to equip each apartment with individual meters.
