Heat makes our pockets burn
At the proposition of the National Energy Regulation Authority (ANRE), the Government of Romania decided to raise the reference price of heat energy by 20%. In order not to be affected too badly, consumers may benefit from state aid, if they meet the conditions set. Among these, the income per family member may not exceed the minimum gross salary per economy.
The national reference price of heat energy will be increased by 20% starting November the 1st 2005. The price set for year 2002 of 89,6 RON will be raised up to 107.5 RON. Along with this decision, other measures will be introduced for the support of the population. Thus, the aid granted by the government will be raised by 20% for families with an income per member of less than 310 RON and the binomial optional tariff will be introduced.
The binomial tariff will offer the beneficiaries the possibility to opt for the payment of the winter invoices at the level of the ones last year and to defer the payment to the summer period in installments. This type of tariff will have two components: a fixed one of 0,01 RON/day/sq m and a variable one, of 76,5 RON/Gcal. Those wishing to opt for this type of tariff must notify the heat energy supplier by the 20th of November the current year, the application of this being effectuated starting January the 1st 2006.
Besides the binomial tariff, there will also be an option of the monomial tariff, which implies the payment of the invoice for the respective month. Edith Bota, the spokeswoman of the Energomur Targu Mures company, declared us that the modification of the national reference price will not bring a raise of the prices over the one announced a week ago. “Within the last meeting of the Local council the invoice price was approved at the level of 150 RON/Gcal and this will be the price the consumers in Targu Mures will pay. We know nothing new about the binomial tariff besides what the press has written about. We have not received a release in this regard”, Edith Bota declared. (B.D.)
