Factual tariff for water estimated at MDL 8.73
Although municipal authorities haven’t announced yet the date on which the Municipal Council will discuss in its session the reexamination of water tariffs, the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) presented the Council figures showing that the real tariff for water would be of MDL 8.73.
Director of “Apa-Canal” JSC, Constantin Becciev, told Info-Prim Neo that this tariff have been calculated by ANRE a year ago, but the reexamination of tariffs has been postponed because new calculations haven’t been coordinated, in conformity with the legislation in force, with the Agency for Constructions and Territorial Development.
Becciev also mentioned that tariffs for water supply and canalization as well as for water of industrial use are calculated by ANRE on the basis of several amendments brought in 2004 to the legislation in force. The role of the Municipal Council, on the other hand, is to decide whether there will be a single tariff for both domestic consumers and economic agents or two tariffs: a higher one for economic agents which would compensate a smaller one for the population.
According to Becciev, “Apa-Canal” pleads, though, for a single tariff. This position is mainly justified by the fact that over the last years the ratio between these two categories of consumers essentially changed. Thus, if in 2001 the ratio was of 50:50, today, population represents 80% from the total number of the consumers, and the number of those who should compensate the tariff for population by paying a higher tariff reduced to the level of 20% and “there’s no one to endow the population”, mentioned Becciev.
Still, several variants of tariffs are currently analyzed, the representative of “Apa-Canal” said. He added that one of the options would be to approve a tariff of MDL 6.5 for the population against the actual MDL 2.62, and that of MDL 15.9 for the economic agents against the actual one of 14.9 MDL.
When asked about the current situation at “Apa Canal”, Becciev mentioned that it is a critical one, losses of about MDL 46 mln being registered in just 9 months of the current year. Today, the company holds accounts receivable of about MDL 270 mln and a similar volume of accounts payable.
Last week, the interim General mayor Vasile Ursu requested that the issue concerning the situation of the “Apa Canal” company is discussed in the next session of the Municipal Council of Chisinau. According to the mayor, the company should present real figures which would endorse the necessity of increasing the tariffs for water.
Vasile Ursu says that previous requests of the water supplier haven’t been taken into consideration by the municipal councilors, because the leadership of ACC didn’t bring any calculations to the sessions, which would confirm the deplorable situation at the company and didn’t propose any concrete actions of redressing the situation.