According to the regulator’s decision, the drinking water rate for residential consumers will increase from 12.99 to 14.03 lei per cubic meter, which is 1.04 lei, or approximately 8%, higher than the current rate.
The cost of sewer service will also increase. For residential consumers, the rate will rise from 5.63 to 6.63 lei per cubic meter—an increase of 1 lei, or nearly 17.8%. For non-residential consumers, the rate has been set at 10.16 lei per cubic meter, and for consumers outside the service area—at 7.40 lei.
The NARE states that Apă-Canal Chișinău had requested even higher rates—15.55 lei per cubic meter for drinking water and 7.68 lei for sewer services. After reviewing the calculations, the regulator reduced the requested regulated revenue by more than 72 million lei, excluding expenses deemed unjustified.
The calculation of the new rates took into account water losses totaling 17.25 million cubic meters—representing 25.9% of the total volume of water abstracted—as well as rate adjustments accumulated between 2017 and 2023.
Other Localities
Residents of Ocnița and Iurcheni are even less “fortunate” than those in Chișinău. In the former, the drinking water rate will now be 30.20 lei per cubic meter; in the latter, 28.71 lei.
In Căinari, a cubic meter of water will cost 18.06 lei.
