In 2011, the government decided to freeze natural gas tariffs for one year, until March 2012. The new document extends the decision until next spring.
Friday, the government approved a bill concerning the energy market, including a gradual deregulation of prices for both energy and natural gas. The bill was sent to parliament for emergency approval.
According to an official document obtained by Mediafax earlier this week, electricity tariffs will be deregulated in several steps starting with this fall.
Price deregulation is set to unfold in six separate rounds for corporate clients, between September 2012 and January 2014, while the process for households will include 10 stages, between July 2013 and December 2017.
Additionally, the government plans to eliminate a social tariff applicable to vulnerable consumers, the document noted. The social tariffs, aimed to protect low-income consumers from expensive electricity bills, will be lifted in three stages, between 2013 and 2015.