Moldovagaz asks ANRE to increase the gas tariff for final consumers by 58.1% - from 14060 to 22229 lei per thousand cubic meters.
The company announced that it had already submitted a relevant request to the National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE) to raise the tariff for natural gas supply to final consumers at regulated prices in 2022. As noted, the main factor behind the need to revise the tariffs was a significant increase of purchase prices. Moldovagaz emphasizes that this decision is in full compliance with the legislation and will enable the company to cover the entire cost of gas purchase and thus ensure fulfillment of contractual payment obligations to the supplier. According to Moldovagaz calculations, the new tariffs should come into effect on June 1. Natural gas tariffs at regulated prices are approved by ANRE at an open meeting. Chairman of Moldovagaz Board Vadim Ceban reminded that last January, when the tariffs were changed, the purchase price of natural gas for final consumers was $620 per 1,000 cubic meters. At the same time, the price reached $1194 in April, while in May the price is expected to be about $920 per 1,000 cubic meters. Vadim Ceban told that Moldovagaz will offer different gas tariffs for the summer and cold period and to raise the tariff to 21 lei per 1 cubic meter this summer. He noted that the introduction of the "summer-winter" dual tariff will reduce the economic burden on the population. "The spring-summer tariff should be slightly higher, but we know that gas consumption in this period is less, and there will not be a big burden on consumers. For example, now the gas tariff exceeds 15 lei per 1 cubic meter, but today, taking into account the growth of the purchasing price, we should have a gas tariff for consumers at 21 lei per 1 cubic meter in the period when gas consumption is less. But from October 1, when the heating season begins directly, in the fourth quarter, where we have prices changing under the contract, and in the formula for calculating the price the proportion of binding to the oil basket will be much higher than the reference to stock quotes, respectively, the purchase price will be less, and we can return to the gas tariff of, for example, 15-16 lei per 1 cubic meter. That is, it is about the same tariff that we have now. It is our proposal; it is the principle of how we should act, because today the main problem is the payment for the supply of gas volumes that we receive, including during the summer months, because no one in the contract has canceled our obligation to pay for gas until the 20th day of each month. This is the vision we have," said the head of Moldovagaz. According to him, the company has no other choice but to increase the tariffs or get a subsidy from the state. "But in our situation, I think it's unrealistic to count on a subsidy, and we won't be able to get out of this situation in any other way. Therefore, it is necessary to understand and explain to consumers that in summer months, when consumption is lower, the gas tariff should be a little bit higher, but we will come back to the current tariff, starting from October", said the head of Moldovagaz. // 25.05.2022 - InfoMarket.
