“Gas tariff increase is disproportionate to objective factors”

Chairman of the Association of Armenia’s Consumers Armen Poghosian sent a letter to Human Rights Defender Karen Andriasian, urging him to pay attention to the increase in the price of gas supplied to consumers.

“We want to draw your attention to the problem of the increase in tariffs of gas supplied to the population. The quality and tariffs of utilities services have always been the center of your attention. In this connection we are concerned about the formation of the gas tariff, which we consider as unfair.

According to principles of the tariff policy of public services in Armenia, prices can increase for such reasons as an increase in the tariff of imported gas, a change in the Armenian dram/ dollar exchange rate, a decline in consumption volumes, and investments.
All these factors exist, but, in our opinion, they are disproportionate to the increase in tariffs and generate an unfounded profit at the expense of rights and interests of consumers.

We are ready to raise this problem by taking joint steps and demand that the review of tariffs by appropriate government bodies (Public Services Regulatory Commission of Armenia, National Assembly, government) should not go beyond the limits of proportionality,” the latter said.