Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar will make a study on the use of thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs), analyze the situation and recommend how to improve the system for calculating heating expenses, as announced after the meeting of a working group of the Ministry of Economy of Croatia. It consists of representatives of the ministry, the institute, Croatian Energy Regulatory Agency (HERA), scientific institutions, organizations for consumer protection, companies for TRV fitting and tenants. Next meeting is scheduled for May, when the results of analysis will be presented and workgroup will decide what is the next step.
TRV fitting is obligatory and that is not about to change, according to the ministry, stating Croatia is obliged by its Heat Energy Market Act and European Union’s Energy Efficiency Directive to facilitate the installation of the devices. TRVs are cost efficient, using heat only when needed, and can reduce heating bills, but tenants representatives argue that is not the case, since the bills are much higher than before the fitting of TRVs.
Minister of economy Tomislav Panenić said penalties for tenants without TRVs will not be imposed until the situation is cleared, adding he also thinks penalties are too high.
