Estonian homeowners displeased with high prices of Russian gas
TALLINN. Oct 3 (Interfax) - The Estonian Homeowners Association will send a letter to European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger and European Commission Vice-President, Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia to complain about Russia's Gazprom.
"The Association wants to draw attention to the fact that the Baltic countries have to pay Gazprom much more for natural gas than the 'old' European countries do. That is not normal," member of the Association Board Priit Vark told the Day after Day newspaper on Monday.
He referred to information posted by the newspaper Kommersant, which said that the Baltic countries paid $318.2 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas in the first quarter of 2010, while other European countries paid $265-$270.
As the natural gas cost for homeowners amounts to 88% of the total price they pay (the rest covers distribution services and taxes), the fair gas price must be smaller, the Association said.