End-users to pay less for gas

The end-users will pay less for natural gas. The average tariff was reduced by 10.1%, from 3,523 lei/1,000 m3 to 3,166 lei/1,000 m3. The decision was taken by the Administration Board of the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) on Wednesday, following the decrease in the purchase price of the Russian gas for the second and third quarter of this year, Info-Prim Neo reports. The tariff for household consumers that use up to 30 m3 of gas a month was decreased from 3,414 lei/1,000 m3 to 3,068 lei/1,000 m3 (-10.1%), for those that consume more than 30 m3 of gas a month – from 3,813 lei/1,000 m3 to 3,427 lei/1,000 m3 (-10.1%), while for other categories of users – from 3,813lei /1,000 m3 to 3,568 lei /1,000 m3 (- 6.4 %). Under the tariff methodology, the ANRE has the right to adjust the gas charges during the year when there are objective factors that lead to financial deviations of over 3% of the consumption and costs included in the tariff, the Agency says in a communique During the first two quarters of this year, Moldova purchased Russian natural gas for US$332,59 and, respectively, US$249.44/1,000 m3. The price for the third quarter is US$182.26/1,000 m3 . For the fourth quarter, the price is projected to be US$196.70/1,000 m3. When adjusting the tariffs for end-users, the ANRE took into account the additional incomes earned by SA Moldovagaz in 2008 and the previous years from buying and transporting natural gas. According to the tariff methodology, these incomes must be later returned to the end-users by approving new tariffs. The charges adopted by the ANRE will come into force when published in the Official Gazette. The last time the tariffs were modified on July 30, 2008.