OREANDA-NEWS. April 18, 2011. The new tariffs are differentiated, depending on the voltage level: high voltage energy will cost less. Fees for RED Union Fenosa consumers will average 1.44 leis for a kilowatt/hour, up 8%. Private consumers, supplied with electric power through the low voltage lines will pay 1.48 leis for a kilowatt/hour (now it is 1.33 leis), through the medium voltage lines – 1.34 leis, high voltage lines – 1.07 leis for a kilowatt/hour.

RED Union Fenosa asked for tariffs in the amount of 1.49 leis, 1.33 leis, and respectively, 1.07 leis for a kilowatt/hour. The single tariff – 1.54 leis for a kilowatt/hour was approved for consumers of the RED Nord and RED Nord Vest, 7.7% higher than the current tariff. Private consumers, supplied with electric power through low voltage lines will pay 1.57 leis for a kilowatt/hour, medium – 1.45 leis, low – 1.20 leis for a kilowatt/hour.

The National Energy Regulatory Agency spokeswoman Lidia Zestrea said introduction of the differentiated tariffs would cut the subsidy volume from 260 million to 200 million leis. The Agency’s Director General Victor Parlicov said the tariffs would become effective as published in the Monitorul official and will be kept till the end of the year.

The major factors that caused the rise in tariffs were the rise in the purchase price for electric power by 8%, in the electric power transportation cost – by 7%, the growth of consumption and of the electric power distributing networks maintenance costs – by 7.5%, the investments, accumulation of losses due to the gap between the existing tariff and real costs.

At the same time, the Agency has cut the volume of expenses and consumption, which the electric power suppliers wanted to include into the tariff: the inquiry of the RED Union Fenosa was reduced by 14.5 million leis, RED Nord – by 2.5 million leis, RED Nord-Vest – by 9.8 million leis. The companies’ representatives are as a whole pleased with the approved tariffs, saying that it is enough for a normal work. The tariffs for electric power was previously increased in January 2010.