Marta Guerreiro stresses the importance of simplifying procedures in gas installations
The Regional Secretary for Energy, Environment and Tourism stressed today the importance of adapting the legal scheme on gas installations in properties in the Azores by "speeding up" and "simplifying" procedures that represent "unnecessary and increased costs" for consumers. The decision also "considers the specificities of the Region" and the "safety of the population."
Marta Guerreiro spoke to journalists at the end of a hearing at the Committee on General Policy of the Legislative Assembly. According to her, the proposed Regional Legislative Decree under consideration provides for the establishment of a system managed by the Regional Directorate for Energy, through "a computer platform to speed up procedures."
In this context, she added that the Regional Directorate for Energy will be "responsible to monitor and control periodic inspection processes that are fundamental to the safety of gas installations, in addition to coordinating the tasks of various entities involved in the process of conducting the inspections."
The Regional Secretary stressed that "geographical discontinuity" represents "more costs," which "should be taken into account" when preparing "this type of legislation," even though the regulation of the sector should always be based on safety guarantee.
During the hearing, the government official stated that the legislative proposal presented by the Regional Government "no longer requires a gas installation in dwellings with the aim of promoting an efficient energy system, thus encouraging sustainable energy sources. It also intends to create simple and adequate procedures, establishing the frequency of mandatory periodic inspections of gas installations."
"The formalities related to the approval of gas installation projects are no longer mandatory. The presentation of a statement of responsibility signed by the project planner certifying the project's compliance with the applicable regulatory and technical standards will be the only document required, "without prejudice to the safety requirements in the use of important energy resource." According to Marta Guerreiro, this decision "promotes the simplification of procedures and the consequent reduction of costs for the consumers," stressed Marta Guerreiro.
The Regional Secretary also pointed out that the existence of regional legislation in this area allows regional "administrative control" as well as the application of the legal document to gas tank installation, "as it is a common situation in the Azorean reality," which will be now subject to regulation.