Termocom leadership sees new crisis ahead

Termocom SM Mihai Arusoi anticipates a new crisis in addition to the gas shortage, which would stem from the low level of bill payments, Info-Prim Neo reports. Arusoi told a TV show a mere 30 percent of the heating bills issued for November were paid on time, compared to 80-90 percent traditionally. This contradicts the information solicited by Info-Prim Neo from Ion Margineanu, manager of Infocom, the company which calculates roughly 70 percent of Termocom's bills, who said the level of bill payments for November constituted 76.51 percent. However, Arusoi believes that because of the low levels of bill payments, the gas supplier Moldovagaz could cut off deliveries to Termocom even if Russian shipments are resumed. Mihai Arusoi lays all the blame on the Chisinau City Hall. Many consumers do not hurry to pay their heating bills because they are waiting for compensations promised by the municipality, but so far only 1,100 households have received a 40 percent discount on their bills, said Arusoi. Info-Prim Neo has learned from Termocom's press service that the temperature of the heat delivered to Chisinau homes is 55 degrees Celsius as compared with the required temperature of 85 degrees. The residents of the capital city are still without hot water, the supply of which was disrupted to obtain a 16 percent economy of gas.