Payments to heat supplier will increase from 5% to 20%

The consumers disconnected from the centralized heating system will pay more to the heat supplier for the transitory heating installations that make a connection between apartments and those in public places. The payment is now 5% of the sum calculated for the heated area, but will gradually rise to 20% until 2013. A decision to this effect was taken by the Government in its September 15 meeting, Info-Prim Neo reports. Under the bill, the payment from October 1 will be 10% of the calculated sum. In October 2012, it will rise to 15%, while at the start of 2013 it will be 20%. The consumers who will ask to be disconnected from the centralized heating system from now on will pay 20% of the calculated sum to the supplier. According to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar, more than 20,400 apartments that are 1.18 million square meters in area have been so far disconnected from the centralized heating system in the municipality of Chisinau. They represent 15% of the housing area. In Balti this figure is 28%. Valeriu Lazar said mainly wealthy persons asked to be disconnected from the system and the consumers on low incomes now have to pay larger tariffs as the fewer the consumers in the system, the higher is the tariff. He also said that the heating system is 80% worn out. The situation can be remedied by attracting investments to modernize the energy companies, but the legislation should be first adjusted to the European standards. The Government Decision says at least 40% of the payments for the consumed heat must be made during heating season, while the rest until August 1. This will enable the companies to prepare for the cold season and do repairs.