Armenian MP says cancellation of electricity price rise decision realistic
24.06.2015,
15:39
Member of the Armenian parliament from “Heritage” opposition party Tevan Poghosyan said cancellation of the Public Service Regulatory Commission’s decision on the electricity price rise is realistic.
YEREVAN, June 24. /ARKA/. Member of the Armenian parliament from “Heritage” opposition party Tevan Poghosyan said cancellation of the Public Service Regulatory Commission’s decision on the electricity price rise is realistic.
On June 17 Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) formally raised the prices of electricity by over 16 percent, down from 40 percent rise sought by Armenia’s Russian-owned power distribution company - the Electricity Networks of Armenia (ENA). This means that the daytime electricity price for households will rise from 42 drams to almost 49 drams (10 U.S. cents) per kilowatt/hour. The households will pay almost 39 drams per kilowatt/hour during night hours.
Several thousands protesters had marched towards the presidential palace on June 22 evening to protest against the rise in power tariffs. After the police blocked the street several hundred people remained overnight, holding a sit-in and blocking traffic on central Baghramyan Avenue. On June 23 early morning the riot police used water cannon to disperse several hundred demonstrators. According to police, some 250 people were detained, all of them released now.
Yesterday night protesters marched again towards the presidential compound but were stopped by the cordons of the police. The avenue is still blocked now.
“There is nothing impossible, the same commission can cancel its own decision. We still have time to discuss and revise the decision before August1,” Poghosyan told a press conference on Wednesday.
The lawmaker said he was with demonstrators in Baghramyan all through the night.
“We have a really brilliant youth. There was tense in the beginning, but the night was peaceful,” he said.
The member of the parliament also expressed hopes that the efforts of the young protesters will bring fruit, no violence cases will occur anymore and the issue will be solved through civilized methods. –0—
On June 17 Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) formally raised the prices of electricity by over 16 percent, down from 40 percent rise sought by Armenia’s Russian-owned power distribution company - the Electricity Networks of Armenia (ENA). This means that the daytime electricity price for households will rise from 42 drams to almost 49 drams (10 U.S. cents) per kilowatt/hour. The households will pay almost 39 drams per kilowatt/hour during night hours.
Several thousands protesters had marched towards the presidential palace on June 22 evening to protest against the rise in power tariffs. After the police blocked the street several hundred people remained overnight, holding a sit-in and blocking traffic on central Baghramyan Avenue. On June 23 early morning the riot police used water cannon to disperse several hundred demonstrators. According to police, some 250 people were detained, all of them released now.
Yesterday night protesters marched again towards the presidential compound but were stopped by the cordons of the police. The avenue is still blocked now.
“There is nothing impossible, the same commission can cancel its own decision. We still have time to discuss and revise the decision before August1,” Poghosyan told a press conference on Wednesday.
The lawmaker said he was with demonstrators in Baghramyan all through the night.
“We have a really brilliant youth. There was tense in the beginning, but the night was peaceful,” he said.
The member of the parliament also expressed hopes that the efforts of the young protesters will bring fruit, no violence cases will occur anymore and the issue will be solved through civilized methods. –0—
