Premier Energy's requirement to adjust electricity prices is largely due to the rise in global gas prices, which has affected the entire energy supply chain.
According to the company, this factor also affected the increase in the price of energy supplied by the central supplier Energocom, which during the cold season covers 35-40% of electricity demand in Moldova. The decision to change the price for the central supplier Energocom creates a monthly deficit for Premier Energy of about 100 million lei. Premier Energy notes that their company, which received a net profit of 31 million lei in 2020, is unlikely to be able to cover these additional costs or receive sufficient funding to cope with this massive economic crisis. Until the end of November 2021, Premier Energy had resources from positive tariff deviations, which were subject to return to end consumers in accordance with the provisions of the current regulation, which made it possible to pay for the purchase of electricity in November 2021. But already in December, the balance of tariff deviations became negative, in other words, end-users began to accumulate tariff deviations (debts) exceeding 100 million lei per month, which are mainly the result of Energocom's price adjustment. In this regard, the company applied to the National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE) for an adjustment in electricity prices, which would ensure the financial viability of the company and avoid the accumulation of debts resulting from the consumption of gas necessary for electricity generation. Premier Energy noted that every day without updating electricity prices, the situation with the lack of funds worsens, the risks in the energy sector increase, and the consumer will eventually have to pay an even higher price than the company is asking ANRE now. Let us remind that on January 10, Premier Energy applied to the National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE) with a request to raise electricity tariffs for consumers. Premier Energy asks for an increase of 1.85 times - from 151 bani per 1 kWh to 278.99 bani (excluding VAT) for household consumers. For Premier Energy consumers connected to medium voltage networks (6; 10 kV), the tariff might be increased 1.9 times - from 125 bani to 241 bani per 1 kW / h, and for those connected to high voltage networks (35; 110 kV), almost 2 times - from 114 to 226.84 bani per 1 kWh. // 18.01.2022- InfoMarket.
