31/07/2014 18:15
Energy minister on electricity price rise: You will have to pay somehow
A female pensioner who was participating in a protest approached Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Yervand Zakharyan outside the Armenian government today. She asked him how she would pay her electricity bills starting tomorrow when the electricity tariff increases.
“You will have to pay somehow,” the minister replied.
“How am I to understand your words: You will have to pay somehow? You will pay my electricity bills! I have no clothes and shoes to wear, nothing to sell,” the old woman said resentfully, explaining that she receives a pension of 27,000 drams.
Yervand Zakharuan did not react to her questions and drove away in his service car.
We would remind you that on June 4 Public Services Regulatory Commission of Armenia (PSRC) announced that under Article 22 of the Law on Energy, it started reviewing the tariffs of electricity production and service provision, as well as the prices of electricity supplied to the end user. PSRC said additional financing of 20 billion AMD is needed to ensure financial stability of the companies of the power industry and safe power supplies.
On July 1, 2014 PSRC took a decision that electricity prices will increase by about 10%.