The Competition Council recommended to the Government that a possible capping of energy prices be at the highest level, without compensation, and that the aid be directed to the most vulnerable consumers, said Bogdan Chiritoiu, President of the Competition Council.

Asked what he thought of the government’s intention to re-cap the price of energy for another year, he said: “It depends on the level of the ceiling and we have to look at the costs, what is the impact on the budget. The lower the level and the longer the impact, the greater the impact.”

It is best to let the market work and come up with a relatively higher level of capping and direct aid to vulnerable consumers, he said.

“Our recommendation was that the capping, if done, be at a higher level. By capping with compensation, on the model we have had so far, the state pays the difference and then I have two problems. One: it costs a lot because the lower the ceiling, the more money the state has to spend on the budget, and two: the consumer has no interest in looking for a cheaper supplier, if the state pays the difference anyway. So our recommendation was that the ceiling, if it is done, be as high as possible, preferably without compensation, and that we direct the state’s resources to those who need it most, the most vulnerable, households, paupers, who have difficulties to pay their bill, as well as the industrial consumers,” Chiriţoiu said, according to Agerpres.

Another recommendation is that the government continue to overcharge energy and gas producers and traders.

As far as industrial consumers are concerned, there are measures for small businesses and large electricity consumers, and more recently the EU has come up with recommendations for measures on the part of large gas consumers, who can also receive support.

“I think we are well equipped to have interventions for all industrial and domestic consumers. But the devil is in the details, we know in principle what to do, we have tools, let’s see how we apply them. It’s a complicated situation, I don’t expect perfection and we can correct later if something doesn’t work. We don’t go through a normal period. We like it, we don’t like it, we have to adapt to this reality,” added the Competition official.