The rise in the electric power and natural gas tariffs is inevitable, while the audit announced by the National Agency for Energy Regulation (NARE) is an attempt by the institution to improve its image. Such conclusions were formulated in the talk show “Politics” on TV 7 channel, IPN reports.
Economic expert of the Institute of European Policies and Reforms Sergiu Tofilat considers that by this audit the NARE is trying to wash its hands. “I don’t think that the results of the external audit will lay at the basis of the adjustment of the electric power and gas tariffs. The Agency imposed a moratorium on the higher tariffs under the pressure of the street. It’s clear that the institution is controlled politically. This audit is only an attempt to improve its image. The external audit results are not mandatory for implementation,” he stated.
Sergiu Ungureanu, energy expert within EBRD projects, said that for the results of the audit to be credible, the NARE must make public the data that were presented to the auditors. “We must know the costs so as to see if the rise in tariffs is justified. If there are presented losses that have nothing to do with the consumers, there is no legal basis for increasing the tariffs,” he stated.
Former NARE director Victor Parlicov also pleaded for greater transparency on the part of the Agency. “The Agency had to present the arguments in favor of increasing the tariffs to the population. The extension of the moratorium on the higher tariffs led to lack of credibility in the calculation methodology. We cannot be sure that the rises announced in July were determined correctly,” he said.
Economic expert Viorel Garbu also accused the NARE of lack of transparency and doubted the Agency’s efficiency. “There are a number of institutions that have brought no benefits to the people in time. They only unjustifiably spend the public funds. Many of these should be liquidated so as to save funds,” he stated.
On November 4, the moratorium imposed by the NARE on the increased electricity and gas tariffs on September 2 was to expire, but the Agency prolonged it until November 8 in the case of power tariffs and until November 15 in the case of natural gas tariffs. It earlier recommended an external audit to see if the higher charges are justified.
