According to ANRE, this measure was identified as necessary to promote market liberalization in the Natural Gas Market Study 2024, carried out with the support of the Energy Community Secretariat. The authority claims that the reform represents a fundamental change in the way of regulating tariffs for distribution services, which will contribute to the liberalization of the natural gas market in Moldova.
Currently, there are 18 natural gas distribution system operators (DNDOs) in the country, which manage approximately 26,400 kilometers of networks. Each operator applies separate tariffs based on its own costs. This leads to differences in tariffs between regions.
The unified distribution tariff is a single tariff for the provision of distribution services, established and approved by ANRE, which applies to all distribution companies. The tariff differs only depending on the level of load in the networks (low, medium or high). Thanks to this reform, a consumer in Chisinau will pay exactly the same tariff for distribution services as a consumer in Balti, Comrat or any other locality in the country with the same level of load. This uniformity eliminates geographical discrimination and ensures equal treatment of all consumers.
In order to maintain the financial balance of distribution companies with structurally different costs, a mechanism of compensation payments is introduced, managed by a settlement body appointed by ANRE. Previously, the regulator appointed SRL “Chișinău-gaz” as the settlement body. Through the compensation system, distribution companies with higher revenues transfer the surplus to the settlement authority, which compensates the insufficient revenues to other distribution companies. Thus, each distribution network operator fully compensates its regulated revenues approved by ANRE, without receiving excess revenues.
For natural gas suppliers, the reform removes geographical barriers that prevent them from expanding their activities in certain regions, creating a fair competitive environment at the national level, and they will be able to implement business strategies with predictable distribution costs throughout the country, while consumers will have a real opportunity to choose their supplier regardless of where they live.
Distribution network operators will submit annually to ANRE the volumes planned for distribution and the calculation of the regulated income. The regulator shall annually determine and approve a single tariff and compensation payments differentiated according to the load level. The regulator will control the compensation payments on a monthly basis and will report periodically to ANRE.
At the same time, ANRE may apply sanctions of at least 0.5% of the annual turnover for non-payment or delay of compensation payments.
