There are no preconditions for increasing the electric power charges, acting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar restated, quoted by IPN.

Commenting on Gas Natural Fenosa’s request to raise the power charges for end-users by 14%, Valeriu Lazar said the real power losses in the distribution networks of the given company are higher than in the state-owned networks.

He also said that over the last two years, Gas Natural Fenosa transferred US$20 million profit to its shareholders. “Nobody says that a company mustn’t make profit, but the profit can be lower. It is the national regulator - the ANRE - that will take a decision. The charges should not be increased over the next two-three years so that the household consumers adjust themselves and are able to pay higher tariffs,” said Valeriu Lazar. According to him, the power distribution networks in northern Moldova will not ask increasing charges.

Acting Prime Minister Vlad Filat said the requests to raise the tariffs must be examined thoroughly. “The power distribution companies should take into account the current situation and think less about profit,” he stated.

Gas Natural Fenosa argued that the purchase price of power from producers increased by 3%, while the tariff for power transportation services rose by 4.5%. The oscillations on the foreign currency market are another reason for its request.