Chamber of Deputies passed with overwhelming majority the amendments to the laws of energy, natural gas and oil, one of the consequences being the suspension of gas prices liberalization for households until 2021.

Originally, the liberalization had to be completed by 2018. 241 deputies MPs voted “for”, only one vote was “against” and 95 were abstentions; the Chamber of Deputies is the decision-making body on this subject, writes Mediafax.

Through the amendments are fully transposed into national law the European Directives for gas and electricity markets, a condition to avoid an imposition of fines by the European Court of Justice. Many of the changes are related to the transmission of electricity and gas and to consumer rights.

“The most important of these amendments is the correction of a mistake made in 2012, when it was negotiated that calendar for phasing out the regulated prices for households and a deadline was set, 31st of December 2018, a deadline absolutely unsustainable. The amendment made in the committee which the Government supports is delaying by at least two and a half years for the population, a delay absolutely necessary, postponement without which the gas prices, if the calendar negotiated by Boc government in 2012 should apply, it would generate an increase of 40% over the next two years”, said the energy Minister.

The Chairman of Industries Committee, Iulian Iancu, said that this project provides the mandatory publication of all costs that will be reviewed by all consumers in Romania, the introduction of single point of contact for household clients, to solve in due time the complaints.

Also, it was assimilated the European directive on compressed natural gas which says that all carriers are required by 2020 to have 20% of compressed natural gas as fuel. However, “the most important measure is extending the deadline and extension of the liberalization schedule and keeping in place the gas basket for gas by 2021”, said Iulian Iancu.

“We have no control over import prices. It was only postponed the growth of domestic gas price. We consume import gas and domestic gas, and Gazprom will increase the price for Romania”, says Otilia Nuțu.

“It was hot these months, but in spring distribution tariffs were increased. In the final price, which is the price of gas plus tariffs, this will mean an increase of about 10-15% compared to last winter of the price you will on the gas and heat bills. You’ll pay more if you have individual heating, less if you are still connected to district heating since a thermal power plant pays less distribution tariffs than individual household”, concluded Otilia Nuțu.