The migration of household consumers from Electrica branches towards private energy traders will only begin after fees for household clients stop being subsidised by the fees charged to big industrial consumers. “As long as the fees currently charged do not cover costs involving acquisition, transportation, distribution and electricity supply, being subsidised for industrial consumers, we cannot expect household clients to exercise their right to choose their supplier in the near future,” say representatives of E.ON Moldova, one of the five privatised electricity distribution and supply companies. E.ON Moldova is currently part of the portfolio of the Germans at E.ON Energie. “Since July 1st, when the energy market became 100% open, we have had no requests to this effect (i.e. for the supplier to be changed) from small consumers, household consumers or economic operators,” said representatives of Electrica Muntenia Sud, the company which handles the energy supply to the Capital City. The situation should change next year, when the majority of traders could launch their first offers to household consumers. “Energy Holding remains focused on industrial consumers, but does not rule out the possibility of entering onto the residential segment, either. As this is a new line of business, we will decide whether to tackle the segment of household consumers after a thorough examination. We think the segment of “captive” consumers is interesting for private suppliers of electricity,” say representatives of the biggest private energy trader, with business worth over 300 million euros last year.