ANCOM has launched for public consultation the methodology used to determine the tariffs for a series of services that the National Company Posta Romana S.A. (CNPR) has been designated to provide it its capacity as a universal service provider in the field of postal services until December 31, 2029. The proposed measures rely on tariff caps and formulas for controlling the increase of tariffs, as well as establishing the conditions under which they are applied.
For the current CNPR designation period, ANCOM proposes to maintain the tariff policy used in the previous designation exercise, but reviewing the indicators underlying the determination of the maximum tariff increase limit for the services that the postal service provider has been designated to provide. According to the proposed regulation, CNPR will have the possibility to set its own rates for these services without being able to exceed the maximum ceiling established according to the methodology proposed by the Authority.
Regulatory measures proposed by ANCOM
When setting the tariffs for the period January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2029, CNPR will have to take into account the consumer price index forecasted by the National Commission for Strategy and Prognosis for the year in which the formula is applied compared to the previous year, as well as the elements that reflect the variation of consumer prices and the productivity of the CNPR compared to the productivity of the national economy. In order to respect the limit imposed by ANCOM, CNPR will have to set with caution the tariffs to be applied, taking into account including the period during which these tariffs will apply, as well as the estimated traffic volume for each of the categories of services included in the scope of the universal postal service.
Obligations of CNPR
CNPR has the obligation to notify ANCOM of all tariffs charged for the provision of services included in the scope of the universal postal service by March 31 of each year for the tariffs charged in the previous year, with the Authority having 60 days to verify them. In the event of any change to the tariffs set by CNPR according to the methodology proposed by ANCOM, the provider will make these tariffs public at least 30 days prior their implementation, while also notifying the Authority of those changes.
If, based on the information provided by CNPR, ANCOM’s verification of compliance with the maximum tariff limit results in a higher tariff increase that the one resulting from the application of the methodology established by ANCOM, the provider will be required to adjust the tariffs for postal services in the year following this finding so as to compensate for the difference between the increase applied and the difference charged.
Public consultation process
The draft decision on establishing tariff regulation measures based on tariff ceilings and formulas for controlling the increase of tariffs for services in the scope of universal service provided by National Company Posta Romana – S.A. as a universal service provider is available for consultation, in Romanian, here. The interested persons are invited to send their comments and suggestions by 04.04.2024, to the ANCOM headquarters (2 Delea Nouă street, sector 3, Bucharest), via the Online Registry or through the Regional Divisions of the Authority. Comments can also be sent by fax to +40 372 845 402 or by e-mail to consultare@ancom.ro.
Additional information
Access to the universal postal service represents the right of every person to benefit from the permanent provision of certain postal services (services within the scope of universal service), at a certain quality level, in any point on the territory of Romania, at affordable rates.
ANCOM has designated the National Company Posta Romana S.A. (CNPR) as universal service provider through ANCOM Decision no.810/2024 for providing all the services within the scope of universal service for the 1 January 2025 – 31 December 2029 period, throughout the national territory.
According to the legislation in force, respectively the Emergency Ordinance no. 13/2013 on postal services, the tariffs charged by the universal service provider for the services within the scope of the universal service that it is obliged to provide must be accessible, regardless of geographical location, transparent, non-discriminatory and cost-based, and incentivise the provision of an efficient universal service.
ANCOM may impose tariff ceilings and formulas for controlling the modification of tariffs for services within the scope of universal service, the modalities for establishing or modifying tariffs for services within the scope of universal service that the universal service provider is obliged to provide and may establish individual tariffs for services within the scope of universal service.
The postal services within the scope of the universal service to which the tariff regulation proposed by the Authority applies are:
a) clearance, sorting, transporting and delivery of domestic and cross-border items, weighing up to (including) 2 kg, having as its object:
1. correspondence, except for large numbers of correspondence;
2. printed, except for large numbers of printed;
3. small parcels, according to the provisions of the Universal Postal Convention and the Letter Mail Regulations, except for small parcels in large numbers;
b) clearance, sorting, transport, and delivery of domestic and cross-border postal parcels weighing up to (including) 10 kg, except for parcels in large numbers;
c) registered items service for domestic and cross-border postal items weighing up to 2 kg (including) referred to in letter a);
d) insured items service:
1. domestic and international postal items weighing up to 2 kg (including) referred to in letter a);
2. domestic and international postal parcels weighing up to 10 kg (including), excluding large parcels.