The rates for public utilities in the Transnistrian region will increase as of March 1. Consumers will pay more for natural gas, electricity, heat and water, IPN reports.

It was proposed that the Transnistrians should pay 1.7 rubles per cubic meter of natural gas, compared to 0.81 rubles at present. The old charge is maintained within the consumption limit of 400 cubic meters of gas for heating and 8 cubic meters for gas hobs.

For electricity, the rate could be 1.39 rubles KWh, as opposed to 0.87 rubles, and for heat - 730.42 rubles/Gcal, compared to 402 rubles now.

The charge for a cube of water will be 9.75 rubles, as against 7.77 rubles at present.

The Transnistrian administration specified that the increases in charges are related to a number of factors. It goes not only to the conditions under which natural gas is delivered, but also to the volume of electricity produced. The Kuchurgan power plant produces three times less electrical energy than before.

According to the Transnistrian central bank, 1 Moldovan leu is equal to 0.86 rubles.