Amount of compensation for applicants with central heating to be adjusted if heating tariff increases - labor minister says

Chisinau, Dec 27 /MOLDPRES/- The amount of energy compensation for more than 120,000 applicants who have centralized heating will be adjusted in case the heating tariff increases. Minister of Labor and Social Protection Alexei Buzu made the statement today.

The clarification was made in the context when Termoelectrica and CET-Nord have submitted to the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) requests for adjustment of tariffs for thermal energy delivered to consumers in Chisinau and Balti.

"We at the ministry will analyze what ANRE's decision will be regarding these tariffs and we will make the necessary adjustments so that these increases will be covered by compensation in January. The thermal energy tariff increases will take effect in January. Respectively, in January, we will again make changes in the Government decision, we will adjust the amount of compensation for those more than 120 thousand beneficiaries of compensation for which thermal energy is the main source of heating and they will benefit from a higher compensation in January so that these tariff increases will not affect the final price paid by citizens. The final price paid in November, December and January will not be higher than last year. We will come back to you with details in January, as soon as we know what will be the final decision of ANRE on these tariffs," he said.

The minister added that the authorities will act in the same way in case there will be requests for an increase in electricity tariffs. "If there will be requests for electricity tariff hikes, then we will do the same," Buzu said.

The official announced that in December the compensation will be increased in particular for citizens for whom the main source of heating is gas, as the gas tariff has increased. Thus, the minimum threshold of compensation will increase from 300 lei in November to 500 lei in December, while the maximum threshold will increase from 800 lei to one thousand lei.

The compensation will be available at post offices or on a personal card, depending on the option selected by the beneficiary.