Privatization programs in Moldova have made substantial progress. Moldova had a mass privatization through property Moldova vouchers. There was also a sale of some state-owned property and free distribution of agricultural lands and housing. Moldova is now trying to privatize its infrastructure, especially telecommunications and energy.
In 1997, the energy sector was decentralized and corporatized. The state-owned electric utility Moldenergo was divided into 16 units, including three generating companies (corresponding to three power plants), a transmission company and five distribution companies. There are plans to privatize the generation and distribution companies, offering at least 51% of these companies to potential owners.

The Moldovan government plans to privatize the five Distribution Network companies which distributed 3.454 billion kWh in 1997. These companies have a combined total of 58,763 kilometers of low voltage lines.

The first of the distribution company privatizations was announced December 1, 1999. The Spanish company Union Fenosa won the competition for Chisinau Disco. In this deal Union Fenosa paid $25 million and agreed to $60 million in further investments over a 5-year period to upgrade the electrical system. In subsequent tenders, Union Fenosa won the South and Central distribution companies. They now distribute most of the electricity in Moldova.

At present, the North and Northwest distribution companies are still state owned. However, it is expected that they will eventually be privatized, as will the three CHP plants. The power that Union Fenosa distributes comes from the Cuciurgan power plant in Transdneister that is controlled by the secessionist regime. Union Fenosa signed a 5-year $267 million agreement with Cuciurgan to supply 10 billion kWh to the three distribution grids over the period. This is expected to satisfy 70% to 80% of the districts' electricity needs.

The government of Moldova plans to privatize the three combined heat and power plants. CET-1 and CET-2 are located in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. Their capacities are 54 MWe and 240 MWe respectively. The third CHP plant is CET-Nord with 20 MWe in the town of Balti. The three CHP plants have a combined electric generating capacity of 212 MWe and a combined heat capacity of 2,157 Gcal/h (2,508 MWth).