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Alliance to Save Energy in Moldovan News

A large number of articles have appeared in Nezavisimaya Moldova, but also in Moldova Suverana and Golos Balti between September 2004 and May 2005. The articles address the issues of centralized vs. autonomous heating, energy accounting, a need for better HOA management and ownership, energy security and its relation to energy efficiency, tariffs in thermal power, the crucial need for indigenous power, etc.

Clearly, a country with no indigenous energy resources faces difficulties buying it from other countries. This problem is particularly intensified by high and constantly increasing energy prices. This article addresses possible solutions.

Both autonomous boiler-houses, and other problems within the Moldovan thermal power complex, give rise to contradictory discussions. This is because many consumers and even some specialists advocate these systems, whereas the rest believe that under conditions of impetuous technical advance only a centralized thermal power is the most efficient one with a positive and stable future.

This article addresses the rationale behind incentive-based behaviour stimulation vs. command and control in Armenia vs Moldova respectively.

January 14 2005, Nezavisimaya Moldova (Independent Moldova newspaper) published an article "Ivan nods to Peter, but Peter nods to Ivan" where authors (the residents of the multifamily building located at Decebal Street #59) complain about the heat supply company "Termocom" which charged them high bills for the consumed heat energy. The authors claim that the billing methods were wrong. The heat consumed was allocated irrespective of the area occupied by the tenants but rather on an equally shared basis. Taking into consideration the spaces rented by economic agents on the ground floor in this building it was obvious that the lessee's share was significantly more. However, this share was accounted for neither by the Housing Management Service (JEK) nor by Termocom. The issues raised in the article involve the majority's interests not only in Chisinau, but throughout Moldova. Alliance to Save Energy, USAID Heat Development Project in Moldova, which dealt with heat issues for more than one year and specifically worked with the legal issues, has also tried to examine the given situation. We hope that the lawyer's opinion will help to bring to light some of the issues addressed in the article.

This article highlights current problems within the heating/thermanl sector and stresses the importance of energy co-generation.

The issue of tariffs has always attracted and will attract attention of thermal power consumers. Discussions are numerous, but this does not mean that a common understanding has been achieved. A category of consumers who know that heat supply is the most expensive communal service throughout the world are puzzled about how Termocom has been managing to maintain the tariff at the same level of 233 lei per Gcal for 5 long years. Other people think that this is just "coquetry" with the authorities or, at least, a secret treaty. But the majority of people, including citizens with little money, consider that the heat tariff is high.

Usually, relations between producers/suppliers of goods and consumers (of these goods) leave much to be desired. It is questionable, and sometimes even impossible for the two parties to reach harmonious relations. It is not just about interests, but also about the fact that under certain conditions either suppliers do not observe their obligations and do not supply goods in due time and in envisaged quantities, or poverty-beaten consumers can not fully pay for the services. This is how divergences and misunderstandings emerge, and how people finally find themselves in the court.

This article addresses the need for coordination within the energy-efficiency efforts in Moldova.

For Moldova, which imports 98% of its energy resources, a continuous rise in prices means a decrease in competitiveness of domestic goods on the internal and external markets, as well as a deteriorating economic situation. Meanwhile, experts of the international and nongovernmental organizations consider that energy-saving resources available inside the country are far from being depleted. Our correspondent met with Ruslan Surugiu, Manager of the Alliance to Save Energy (USAID project in Moldova), and Mikhail Socol, Director of Renovatia - Center for Support and Development of the Housing Complex and Municipal Services

This article addresses the personal views of three individuals directly involved with the Association of Owners of Privatized Apartments. It questions the current situation of home-ownership, and addresses the pressing concern over the rights of homeowners beyond the door step of his/her apartment.