PSD Bucharest proposes a legislative amendment by which Bucharest residents pay less when hot water and thermal energy are not delivered at the temperatures stipulated in the contract. However, the specialists consulted by “Adevărul” claim that the initiative does not bring major changes, given that even now Termoenergetica is obliged to grant compensation for the delivery of the heating agent below the contractual parameters. The only novelty would be the updating of the supply diagrams, which would be carried out following further studies.
Specifically, the social democrats want the amendment of the CGMB Decision no. 13/31.01.2023 by introducing the obligation for thermal energy to reach the tap at the agreed contractual parameters. The project sets a clear standard for domestic hot water: a temperature of 55 degrees Celsius, with an error margin of plus/minus 5 degrees. Any delivery below the minimum threshold of 50 degrees Celsius would automatically attract the population’s right to a reduction in price. In order to put this mechanism into practice, the PSD proposes that, within 90 days, a calculation formula for the application of the reductions be established, a formula that will need the vote of the General Council. The project modifies CGMB Decision no. 13/31.01.2023 and introduces the obligation for thermal energy to be supplied at the agreed contractual parameters, according to an updated diagram.
The document presented on Monday by Daniel Băluță introduces five new paragraphs to Article 2 of the Decision, among which:
- the obligation to supply thermal energy at the agreed contractual parameters, according to an updated supply diagram, which provides for hot water consumption at a temperature of 55°C ± 5°C (the minimum limit being 50°C);
- updating, within 90 days, the thermal energy supply diagram;
- the population’s right to a price reduction if the thermal energy is not supplied at the contractually agreed temperature, i.e. below the minimum threshold of 50°C provided in the diagram;
- establishing, within 90 days, a calculation formula for the application of price reductions, subject to CGMB approval;
- initiating the negotiation with ELCEN to establish a new system operation diagram, compatible with the current network situation.
Mihai Mereuță: “You pay for luxury tomatoes, but you receive damaged goods”
On the other hand, the tenants’ representatives have reservations about the practical applicability of the new rules. Mihai Mereuță, the president of the Habitat League, explains that the basic idea is morally correct, but it already exists. Currently, according to the current provisions of the contract, Termoenergetica grants compensation for the lack of parameters, but only at the request of tenant associations.
“Thermoenergetica has to make a deduction from the correct bill, calculated on energy. It has to. This is done on demand, not automatically. If it was automatic, it would have been good. It is done on demand, if the data monitored by the consumer is confirmed. Basically, the basic idea for people is that they are not paying extra. They are paying for a bad commodity, like talking about giving you luxury tomatoes, but you get more spoiled tomatoes. The contract provides good tomatoes. The fact that they did not comply with the contract should lead to a further decrease”explains Mihai Mereuță.
Currently, according to the current provisions of the contracts concluded with the tenants’ associations, Termoenergetica grants compensation for the lack of parameters for the supply of hot water and heat, but only upon request. In other words, the associations must prove the fact
On the other hand, the president of the Habitat League does not agree with stopping the supply of heating agent, even if it is supplied below the parameters.
“Experience shows that you can’t say “I don’t need heating agent under the parameters” or “I don’t pay if it’s not forty degrees”, because energy was consumed to heat from four degrees to forty. It’s absurd. The world riots if the water stops coming at 32 or 35 degrees, but especially if it doesn’t come at all”concludes Mereuță.
Radu Opaina: “The meter judges by the water temperature”
Much more critical of the initiative is Radu Opaina, the president of the Federation of Owners’ Associations in Romania.
“First of all, it doesn’t make any sense, because the price is judged at the counter there. The meter judges by the temperature of water passing through it. (…) If the temperature is 6 degrees, the heat from the hot water is not counted. So it’s not an effective measure, it’s populist. It is populist to make the world understand that something is being done, but nothing is being done.”declares Radu Opaina bluntly.
In the view of the president of the Federation of Owners’ Associations, the only correct way to do justice to consumers is not a bureaucratic recalculation of the price, but the payment of direct damages for services not provided.
“They have to do something completely different: give compensation to the population, as the law and the contract say. If you give compensation, the bill closes at zero. It’s simple. If you have to give me five kilograms of potatoes and you don’t give them to me, you pay them, because you left me without them. The same with hot water”says Opaina.
