PretCorectLaGaze. (Mis)information of non-household customers on market liberalization

by Dumitru Chisalita, Energy Expert

The moment of gas market liberalization for non-household customers on January 1st 2015 has passed. Amazingly, there’s no institution to take measures so that the same practices do not repeat at the full liberalization of this market, which will happen on July 1st 2015. In the PretCorectLaGaze campaign, we highlighted the importance of disseminating information in view of market liberalization for non-household customers. This approach is the only way to prevent the conclusion of contracts to the detriment of customers. We made an investigation on the way in which non-households were informed on January 1st 2015, but especially on the way in which customers were informed that they are in a period of transition, following to join the free market entirely as of July 1st 2015. None of the websites studied, of suppliers or ANRE, included in the main page information regarding the gas market liberalization for non-household customers: ANRE website, at the third click, has a general presentation, on rights and obligations of customers and suppliers, but nothing exclusively intended for gas market liberalization as of January 1st 2015/July 1st 2015:

http://www.anre.ro/ro/gaze-naturale/consumatori/rolul-anre-in-informare-consumatorilor-de-gaze-naturale

The website of E.ON Energie, at the fourth click, includes a general announcement on gas market liberalization, but nothing useful to inform non-households about market liberalization. “Under the provisions of Law 123/2012 on Electricity and Natural Gas and Government Memorandum on the Schedule for the elimination of regulated prices, we inform you that implementation of gradual gas market liberalization/deregulation schedule started on February 1st 2013 for non-household consumers.”

http://www.eon-energie-romania.ro/cps/rde/xchg/SID-9BE3D569-7161D0E7/eon-energie-romania/hs.xsl/3976.htm

GDF SUEZ ENERGY Romania website, at the fourth click, includes an announcement on gas market liberalization for non-household customers. “According to art. 179 paragraph (2) letter a) of the Electricity and Natural Gas Law no. 123/2012 with further amendments and additions, the applicability of final regulated prices for non-household customers ended as of January 1st 2015”. Moreover, this website includes a misinformation: non-household gas consumers had to exercise their eligibility right and conclude a gas supply contract in the free market by December 31st 2014, without giving other explanation and hinting that, if they did not express their option by that time, they no longer had this option.

https://www.gdfsuez.ro/business-plus/utile/noutati-gaze-naturale/

COVI CONSTRUCT website, at the second click, includes an announcement on the liberalization of gas market for non-household customers: “As of January 1st 2015, for non-household customers, in accordance with the provisions of Art. 179 – paragraph (2) – letter a) of the Electricity and Gas Law no. 123/2012, final regulated prices will be eliminated. In this context, gas supply to this category of consumer will be made only in negotiated regime. Our company can offer gas in the free market, as of January 2015, in the following conditions […]”.

http://www.covi.ro/pagina-clientului/liberalizare-piata-gaze/

GAZ SUD website, at the second click, includes an announcement on gas market liberalization for non-household customers. “In consideration of the provisions of Order no. 107 of 22.10.2014 issued by the President of the National Energy Regulatory Authority, published in the Official Gazette of Romania no. 780/27.10.2014, Part I, which entered into force on November 1st 2014, regarding the establishment of measures on gas supply to non-household customers, in light of elimination of final regulated prices, we inform you on the following: As of January 1^st 2015, the applicability of final regulated prices for non-household customers ends, according to art. 179 paragraph (2), letter a) of the Electricity and Gas Law no. 123/2012, with subsequent amendments and additions; (…)”

http://www.gazsud.ro/liberalizare.html

Regarding the other 34 suppliers, which are active in the regulated market, they either haven’t posted on their websites, or their websites couldn’t be found/did not work/couldn’t be opened. The shocking thing is that, although we are close to the middle of the transition period to full market liberalization for non-household customers, which will end on June 30th 2015, nobody in the market – ANRE, suppliers, other institutions – mentions anything about this stage and the way in which non-households should negotiate their contracts in this period. The PretCorectLaGaze campaign aims at warning and meeting the needs of customers, suppliers and institutions, providing the necessary information for the operation of the non-household customers market, through:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PretCorectLaGaz?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PretCorectLaGaz

Blog: www.dumitruchisalita.ro.

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net