Apă-Canal Chișinău asks for an increase in tariffs for water supply and sewerage services for 2022 to an average of 23.65 lei per 1 cubic meter, which is 10.04 lei per 1 cu. m (73.8%) more than the current tariffs.
In connection with Apă-Canal Chișinău's request for approval of new tariffs for the supply/provision of public water supply and sewerage services, the National Agency for Energy Regulation organized a working meeting with representatives of the company. The water supplier referred to the critical situation it is in, mainly caused by rising prices for consumed electricity. In this context, NAER noted that, in accordance with the current legislation, tariffs are calculated for a calendar year (in this case, for 2022), and the total impact of the increase in electricity prices from October 14 and from November 4 on tariffs for water supply and sewerage services are 0.65 lei per 1 cubic meter, and not 10.04 lei per 1 cu. m., as required by the operator. Moreover, NAER notes that Apă-Canal Chișinău in 2019-2021 did not submit any requests for adjustment of tariffs for water supply and sewerage services, since during this period electricity prices decreased and positive tariff deviations (excess revenues) formed in the amount of 377 million lei, and the inclusion of these deviations in water and sewerage tariffs would lead to their reduction. On the issue of covering operating expenses incurred by the operator, NAER drew attention to the fact that the actual losses due to technological consumption and losses in the public water supply system, incurred by the operator in 2022, significantly exceed the regulatory limits established by the regulatory framework. NAER does not accept the amount of surplus for tariff purposes, and it falls directly on the enterprise. At the same time, the agency has recently initiated a number of actions aimed at improving the sustainability of all operators in the water supply and sanitation sector. Thus, already at the beginning of July of this year, the development of amendments to the Methodology for determining, approving and applying tariffs for water supply, sewerage and wastewater treatment services began, which is at the final stage of consultations and should be approved by the end of this year. Also, in order not to jeopardize the solvency of Apă-Canal Chișinău, NAER expressed its readiness to consider the possibility of postponing for a certain period of positive tariff deviations formed before the current year. In conclusion, the agency, in order to exclude speculation about a possible cessation of the supply of drinking water to the inhabitants of Chisinau municipality specified that any inaction or action contrary to the current legislation on the part of Apă-Canal Chișinău will be qualified accordingly. The NAER emphasized that Apă-Canal Chișinău is obliged to provide consumers with reliable and uninterrupted public water supply and sewerage services in a safe environment. // 08.11.2022 — InfoMarket
