The Energy Community Secretariat has “welcomed” the decision of the Moldovan energy regulator ANRE to certify the electricity transmission system operator (TSO) Moldelectrica as an Independent System Operator (21 July).
Almost five years after the first certification request by Moldelectrica, the TSO is now compliant with the European standards for unbundling, following ANRE’s decision on 11 July.
“In issuing the final decision, ANRE took full account of the Secretariat’s Opinion no 2/2023 dated 12 May 2023, which raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest that may affect the independence of the TSO,” Energy Community said via a press release.
Between 12 May and 11 July, all safeguards recommended by the Secretariat were implemented. This included an amendment of Moldelectrica’s statute to ensure independent investment planning, the adoption of a compliance program by the Ministry of Energy (as the system owner), the appointment of a compliance agent, and a signing of an impartiality statement by all state representatives on the boards of directors of state-owned suppliers and generators.
The final decision also includes conditions to be fulfilled in the coming nine months in order to safeguard the independence of the TSO, namely strengthening the role of the State Secretary designated to exercise the role of the Ministry as the sole shareholder of Moldelectrica, and the introduction of selection procedures applicable to the positions of members of Moldelectria’s board of directors (after the expiry of the current mandates), based on “the principles of merit and transparency,” with a majority of members to be selected from outside public administration and public enterprises.
Following the successful certification of Moldelectrica as an ISO, the Secretariat closed its case (ECS-18/21) against Moldova.
