Price hike for heating bills in Bucharest, but equal monthly payments planned

Bucharest inhabitants connected to the centralized heating and water system will pay higher heating bills the next winter season and the Bucharest Municipality has recently approved the price hike for heating. The gigacalorie will cost around EUR 39.5 (the equivalent of RON 169) starting the beginning of August this year, up from the previous price of EUR 29. This is a 36.5 percent increase in price. The increase in price was triggered by the need to cover the yearly revenue deficit for RADET, the company which provides heating and hot water in Bucharest. The Bucharest municipality will also have to picth in less with subventions, from the previous EUR 180 million a year, to EUR 142 million. Two-roomed apartment owners will pay around RON 110 a month for heating and hot water if three people live in the apartment. Payments will also be evenly spread out throughout the year, based on the heating and hot water consumption in the previous winter. This means that the heating and hot water bills paid during the winter time will no longer be the biggest such bills throughout the year. At the end of the year, the actual consumption will be computed and those who paid less will pay the difference and the other way around, according to the city's general deputy mayor Mircea Raicu. editor@romania-insider.com (photo source: Photoxpress.com)