Electricity tariff increase to be subsidized from off-budget funds – Armenian premier
30.06.2015,
16:17
The electricity tariff increase will be subsidized from extrabudgetary resources, Armenia’s premier Hovik Abrahamyan told reporters in the framework of “Economic Agenda” conference today.
YEREVAN, June 30. /ARKA/. The electricity tariff increase will be subsidized from extrabudgetary resources, Armenia’s premier Hovik Abrahamyan told reporters in the framework of “Economic Agenda” conference today.
The government will reveal the source of financing in future, Abrahamyan said.
On June 17, 2015, Armenia’s Public Service Regulatory Commission raised the electricity tariff by 6.93 drams ($0.015 or 16.7%) per kilowatt-hour effective as from August 1, as compared to 17 drams’ (40.8%) increase asked for by the bidder, the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA).
The regulator’s decision gave rise to protests in Yerevan and other cities. ‘No To Plunder’ civil campaign participants have been holding demonstrations and sit-in in Yerevan demanding the government to cancel the price hike. Early morning on June 23, the police used water cannons to disperse peaceful demonstrators in Baghramyan Avenue that left 25 people injured. Large-scale protests resumed on the same day, demanding the authorities to cancel the hike and to punish those involved in violence used to disperse the peaceful demonstrators. Baghramyan Avenue remains blocked till now.
On Friday, following his meeting with Russian minister of transport Maksim Sokolov (co-head of Russia-Armenia intergovernmental commission), Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan said an audit will be performed in ENA. On Saturday, the president said that the government will pay the tariff increase pending the completion of the audit. –0--
The government will reveal the source of financing in future, Abrahamyan said.
On June 17, 2015, Armenia’s Public Service Regulatory Commission raised the electricity tariff by 6.93 drams ($0.015 or 16.7%) per kilowatt-hour effective as from August 1, as compared to 17 drams’ (40.8%) increase asked for by the bidder, the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA).
The regulator’s decision gave rise to protests in Yerevan and other cities. ‘No To Plunder’ civil campaign participants have been holding demonstrations and sit-in in Yerevan demanding the government to cancel the price hike. Early morning on June 23, the police used water cannons to disperse peaceful demonstrators in Baghramyan Avenue that left 25 people injured. Large-scale protests resumed on the same day, demanding the authorities to cancel the hike and to punish those involved in violence used to disperse the peaceful demonstrators. Baghramyan Avenue remains blocked till now.
On Friday, following his meeting with Russian minister of transport Maksim Sokolov (co-head of Russia-Armenia intergovernmental commission), Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan said an audit will be performed in ENA. On Saturday, the president said that the government will pay the tariff increase pending the completion of the audit. –0--
