Moldova's Government approves new heating costs allocation methodology
The Moldovan government has approved a new methodology for allocating heating costs between residents of apartment buildings. The new methodology, which is expected to be implemented in the 2023-2024 heating season, takes into account the specific characteristics of each building and apartment, making the payment more individualised.
"In the wake of the analysis, including the practice from last year, we come with adjustments that relate to the formula, the application method and the information provided to consumers," said Victor Parlicov, Minister of Energy. "One of the problems we have found was not so much the calculations, but the parameters about the blocks included, with outdated and erroneous data."
Under the previous methodology, all owners of apartments that were disconnected from the centralised heating system paid a fixed fee of 5%, or later 10%, of the cost of heating calculated per square metre of the apartment, regardless of whether they lived in the middle of the building, on the corner, or in the attic.
The new methodology will take into account factors such as the size of the apartment, the number of rooms, the location of the apartment within the building, and the type of insulation. This is intended to ensure that residents pay a fair share for the heating they use.
The new methodology also gives building managers a greater role in the allocation process. Managers will be responsible for collecting data from residents and calculating the heating costs for each apartment.
The government hopes that the new methodology will address the concerns of consumers who have felt that they were paying too much for heating.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
