In the light of the recent energy rate increase the Armenian government will subsidize vulnerable citizens of the RA, Hovik Abrahamyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia, said during the June 25 Executive Board meeting.
According to him, the government has precluded the subsidization for all citizens. This envisages aid for vulnerable citizens only - 105 thsd families or 400 thsd people. Extra subsidizations per family will total 24 thsd AMD annually or 2.5 bln AMD altogether all over Armenia. According to the governmental calculations, each average-sized family uses 200 KwH energy per month. Therefore, the additional burden will total 1400 AMD per month. The prime minister also called upon State Committee for Protection of Economic Competition of the Republic of Armenia to monitor consumer products companies to avoid prices increases conditioned by energy rate hikes.
According to Abrahamyan, no government (neither the Armenian one) wishes energy rate increase, however, the government should take into account the emerging realias.
According to general public, says Abrahamyan, the energy price hike is conditioned by the "Electric Networks of Armenia" CJSC's misuses or the so-called plunder. He does not preclude the fact that there have been misuses.
According to Abrahamyan, these misuses have been crucial for the owner of the ENA first of all - his income has been significantly reduced.
To note, on June 17 the Public Services Regulatory Commission raised the electric power tariffs by 6.9 AMD to about 50 AMD per 1 kWh. The ENA had insisted on 17 AMD growth in the tariffs because of the company's debts. This decision has sparked public protests in the country. The decision angered also the political and public organizations and the opposition forces of Armenia and they promised to join the protests. The public response to this decision is rather negative