Armenia’s regulator seeks rise of electricity prices from February 2022

YEREVAN, December 20. /ARKA/. The price of electricity for the vast majority of Armenian households is very likely to grow by 4.7 drams per 1 kWh starting February 1, 2022, Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) revealed today.

At the same time the PSRC suggests that the cost of electricity for socially disadvantaged layers of the population (11% of the population) remain unchanged.

The cost of electricity for households which consume up to 200 kWh monthly (55% of consumers) is to increase by 1.5 drams per kWh, while those which use 201-400 kWh (25% of consumers) are to pay by 3,5 drams more per kWh. The cost for those which use more is to grow by 5.5 drams per kWh.

The PSRC said it will hold public hearings on December 23 to discuss the proposed price changes.

In late 2020 Armenia's Public Services Regulatory Commission had approved a 3 dram rise in electricity prices, which came into force on February 1, 2021. The rise applies to those households, which consume more than 400 kWh per month, which according to some estimates, make 10% of all households across the country.

The price rose for them to 47.98 drams for daytime electricity and to 37.98 drams for night time electricity.

The prices for socially disadvantaged strata of the population are now 29.99 drams and 19.99 drams per 1 kWh respectively.

Currently, other Armenian households pay 44.98 drams per 1 kWh for daytime consumption (from 7 am to 11 pm) and 35 drams for night time consumption (from 11 pm to 7 am).

The PSRC explained the rise by a financial gap that emerged after the revision of tariffs of large power generating stations.

Armenia’s national power distribution company- Electric Networks of Armenia - is owned and run by Tashir Group of Companies, owned by a Russia-based billionaire of  Armenian origin Samvel Karapetyan, who acquired the facility from the Russian energy holding Inter RAO UES in September 2015. ($1 - 480.61 drams) -0-.