Scheduled interruptions in gas supply cannot be longer than 24 hours if they affect more than 100 consumers. If there are vast works and the intermission affects more than 500 consumers, it can last up to 120 hours (5 days). The permitted duration of pauses is established in the Regulation regarding the quality of natural gas transport and distribution services, which comes into effect this month, Info-Prim Neo reports. If the deadline isn't respected, providers will have to pay compensations: 20 lei for domestic consumers and 200 for industrial ones per each additional hour of suspension. Lilian Barcaru, head of ANRE's quality section, said that gas providers would have to inform consumers about the resuming of the service in no more that 6 hours after its interruption. The information can be provided through mass media, notifications at the block entrance, by phone, fax, Internet or any other means. If the information deadline isn't respected in at least 95% of the interruptions occurring during a year, ANRE can reduce the fees charged by the guilty enterprise. According to the Regulation, the gas provider will have to pay compensations for not connecting consumers to the network in 4 days since the contract signing and payment of connection fees. The compensation will be 15% of the connection fee, and another 5% will be paid for every day after deadline. The Regulation contains a series of stipulations about the natural gas quality and supply conditions. Final consumers' written complaints about the gas quality and supply conditions (pressure levels) will be examined by the network operators in 30 days after the complaint has been registered. If there are deviations from the quality standards and pressure levels caused by the network operator, the latter will have to pay compensations to the affected final consumers. The quality parameters are established in the Regulation and could be harshened in time, after the gas provider invests in networks' repair. “In the first stage, it will be hard to determine whether the quality and pressure parameters are respected. The consumers who are unhappy with the quality of the service should go to a measurement lab. The Regulation offers the possibility to use several labs, including private ones, if they appear in the future”, declared the head of ANRE's quality section. The regulation stipulates that in 30 days after its coming into effect, network operators must open a 24-hour line to receive consumers' complaints. The phone number will be included in the gas bill. Victor Parlicov, ANRE director, said this was the first regulation of natural gas supply developed in Moldova. “We need a year to check the functionality of this regulation. Such a document was highly necessary. It simplifies the procedure for obtaining compensations by consumers whose rights have been infringed. Until now, compensations could be obtained only through trials and not every consumer can afford a trial. We want this regulation to help all consumers know their rights and obligations. On the other hand, we want to increase the responsibility of gas providers subordinated to Moldovagaz”, explained Parlicov. The Regulation regarding the quality of natural gas transport and distribution was developed by ANRE as stipulated by the Law on natural gas, adopted in December 2009.