Audit of the ENA company will make it possible to find out if raising electricity prices can be justified

The slogan ‘We are masters of our country’ implies not only demands, but also involvement in the processes going on in the country.

Public activity shows people are willing to get involved in the processes and in decision-making, Head of the Government Staff, Minister David Harutyunyan told Armenia TV.

“This is a rational solution, one offered. Mistrust is the most disastrous thing in the world. It has numerous reasons. The country is faced with numerous unsolved problems, which cause this mistrust,” Mr Harutyunyan said.

According to him, an audit of the Electric Networks of Armenia company will make it possible to find out if raising electricity prices can be justified and what are the threats of not raising them.

An audit in the Electric Networks of Armenia company will require 3-6 months.

Asked of subsidizing will be at taxpayers’ expense before the audit is completed, Mr Harutyunyan said that the money will be confiscated from the company if no grounds for raising electricity prices are found. As regards sale or nationalization of the company, Mr Harutyunyan said that neither can be ruled out. However, the fundamental principle is: the government must never manage this company.

“Even if the company is nationalized, a reputable company has to be selected as manager. Regrettably, we have a sad experience when the government managed the company, which resulted in a US $50-100m debt, which was later paid off from the state budget, which is inadmissible.”