Head of ENA informed about ruling party's stance on possible rise in electricity prices
02.06.2015,
18:53
A senior member of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia Vahram Baghdasaryan told reporters today that Yevgeny Bibin, the chief executive of Armenia's Russian-owned power distribution company Electricity Networks of Armenia (ENA) was informed about the position of the ruling party concerning the facility's bid seeking a rise in electricity prices.
YEREVAN, June 2. / ARKA /. A senior member of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia Vahram Baghdasaryan told reporters today that Yevgeny Bibin, the chief executive of Armenia's Russian-owned power distribution company Electricity Networks of Armenia (ENA) was informed about the position of the ruling party concerning the facility's bid seeking a rise in electricity prices.
Baghdasaryan spoke to reports following a meeting between Bibin, senior lawmakers from the Republican Party of Armenia, energy and natural resources minister Yervand Zakharyan and head of the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) Robert Nazaryan.
"I think Bibin and his team should draw conclusions after hearing what the participants of the meeting said. Let's wait for the next meeting of PSRC. Until then there will be a hearing on the issue with the participation of political forces. Next Monday we once again will hold a meeting of our faction to sum up the results," said Baghdasaryan.
He said experts at PSRC can not agree with the reasons grounding the facility's bid seeking a permission to raise electricity prices.
'The PSRC’s decision will be based on objective arguments. I can not say now if the price will rise or not,' said Baghdasaryan.
Bibin refused to answer numerous questions from reporters, saying that 'nothing has been decided' during the discussion.
On May 8 the Electricity Networks of Armenia asked the Public Services Regulatory Commission to allow it to raise the price of electricity a third time in less than two years by 17.08 drams per one KWh. The company asks for a permission to increase the daily rate (from 7 am to 11 pm) from the current 41.85 drams per 1 kWh to 58.93 drams and the night rate (from 11 pm to 7:00 am) from the current 31.85 drams per 1 kWh to 48.93 drams.
The tariff went up 27 percent in July 2013 because of the increased cost of Russian natural gas, which generates more than one-third of Armenia’s electricity. The PSRC raised it by another 10 percent in July 2014, citing the need to end the company’s mounting losses.
The Electricity Networks of Armenia is a 100% subsidiary of Russian INTER RAO UES. -0-
Baghdasaryan spoke to reports following a meeting between Bibin, senior lawmakers from the Republican Party of Armenia, energy and natural resources minister Yervand Zakharyan and head of the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) Robert Nazaryan.
"I think Bibin and his team should draw conclusions after hearing what the participants of the meeting said. Let's wait for the next meeting of PSRC. Until then there will be a hearing on the issue with the participation of political forces. Next Monday we once again will hold a meeting of our faction to sum up the results," said Baghdasaryan.
He said experts at PSRC can not agree with the reasons grounding the facility's bid seeking a permission to raise electricity prices.
'The PSRC’s decision will be based on objective arguments. I can not say now if the price will rise or not,' said Baghdasaryan.
Bibin refused to answer numerous questions from reporters, saying that 'nothing has been decided' during the discussion.
On May 8 the Electricity Networks of Armenia asked the Public Services Regulatory Commission to allow it to raise the price of electricity a third time in less than two years by 17.08 drams per one KWh. The company asks for a permission to increase the daily rate (from 7 am to 11 pm) from the current 41.85 drams per 1 kWh to 58.93 drams and the night rate (from 11 pm to 7:00 am) from the current 31.85 drams per 1 kWh to 48.93 drams.
The tariff went up 27 percent in July 2013 because of the increased cost of Russian natural gas, which generates more than one-third of Armenia’s electricity. The PSRC raised it by another 10 percent in July 2014, citing the need to end the company’s mounting losses.
The Electricity Networks of Armenia is a 100% subsidiary of Russian INTER RAO UES. -0-
