The state will fully cover the increased cost of electric power for rural residential consumers only if the consumption is lower than 60 kWh. At Wednesday’s meeting, the Government approved a bill to pay compensations for the increased tariffs to the underprivileged population. Minister of Economy and Trade Igor Dodon said that there will be 675,000 beneficiaries in rural areas and 80,000 beneficiaries from among the 13 socially vulnerable categories because the state will continue to pay 25% to 50% of the cost of electric power. In August-December the state will spend 47 mln lei on compensations for the increased tariffs for rural consumers and 1.23 mln lei for the socially vulnerable strata of the population. According to the National Agency for Energy Regulation data, cited by Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev, a rural household consumes on average 47 - 60 kWh each month. The consumers supplied by the power distribution networks from the northern part of the country, RED-Nord and RED-Nord-Vest, will receive compensations of 18 lei on average, and those supplied by Union Fenosa Company - of 10.8 lei. The overall compensations of 9.5 mln monthly will be covered from the Government’s reserve fund. The payment of compensations will start in September and will end late in December. The national energy regulator announced on July 31 that the price of electricity will be 0.96 lei per kWh for the consumers supplied by Union Fenosa, or by 23% higher, and 1.01 lei per kWh for the consumers from the north of Moldova, or by 44% higher. The new tariff will come into force after published in The Official Gazette of Moldova.