Opposition MPs urge to discuss energy tariff increase in the parliament
18.05.2015,
15:20
Opposition members of the Armenian parliament called on to hold a discussion on the possible electricity tariff increase with all parties involved, including the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC).
YEREVAN, May 18. /ARKA/. Opposition members of the Armenian parliament called on to hold a discussion on the possible electricity tariff increase with all parties involved, including the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC).
On May 8, “Electric Networks of Armenia” filed an application with the Public Services Regulatory Commission asking to raise the energy tariff for the population by 17.08 drams. In particular, according to the application, daytime (7:00-23:00) and nighttime (23:00-7:00) tariffs should be raised to 58.93 drams and 48.93 drams per kilowatt-hour respectively.
It is an extremely important issue that may have disastrous consequences, head of the Prosperous Armenia Party faction Naira Zohrabyan said. The proposal was supported also by opposition MP Nikol Pashinyan, who urged to consider the matter not after, but before the price increase decision is made.
The most important question is how “Electric Networks of Armenia” have accumulated such a debt, Pashinyan said.
Member of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) party Hrant Bagratyan, in his turn, said the electricity tariff increase may trigger catastrophic consequences.
It is not the tariff, but the management efficiency at “Electric Networks of Armenia” that should be raised, he said.
The proposal to discuss the possible energy price increases was supported by heads of Heritage and ANC factions Ruben Hakobyan and Levon Zurabyan.
Yet, the speaker Galust Sahakyan said there were no grounds for such a discussion.
Members of the Public Services Regulatory Commission can be invited to the parliament for discussion after the matter is considered at the commission.
Speaking at a news conference on May 13, the minister said the tariff rise bid was fully justified as the company’s huge debt of 37.6 billion drams resulted from the unplanned halt of the nuclear power plant, dry year in 2014, affecting the work of hydropower plants and breaches of balance modes, for which the company was not legally responsible.
The Electric Networks of Armenia is a 100% subsidiary of Russian INTER RAO UES. ($ 1 - 480.9 drams). –0--
