Energy rate hike: Electricity prices will make people take to streets to curb authorities' appetite (video)
Electricity rates in Armenia may go up by 17 drams. Republican lawmaker Vardan Ayvazyan says the electricity price hike has its reasons. “Given the ongoing dollar-dram fluctuations, the entire system will work with losses if the tariffs are raised by 10 drams,” he says. On May 8, five major power generating companies in Armenia asked the Public Services Regulatory Commission to revise electricity tariffs. Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC seeks a 17-dram increase in electricity tariffs, making it 58, 93 drams per kilowatt. Aram Manukyan, a secretary of the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK), says any increase in prices leads to the decrease in the number of consumers. “If the new tariffs are approved, it will cause a chain reaction (domino effect) and result in the price hike of many products, lead to inflation, destroy businesses and increase migration. Our economy will eventually be destroyed,” he said. Vardan Ayvazyan is convinced that electricity prices for vulnerable households will be subsidized by the government. Aram Manukyan says he returned from Lori marz several days ago. There he saw that people do not use gas because they cannot afford to pay the prices. “Villagers heat their homes with wood. They cut forests and do it without remorse. The authorities are aware of the situation. People destroy the forests with the consent of the authorities.” An initiative group has been formed in Armenia which is going to organize street protests against the electricity price hike. “Citizens will win in the long run as the National Assembly cannot suppress protests. Political forces have not reached the peak to curb the government’s appetite,” said Mr Manukyan. “Sorry, but if you have another option, a better option, I shall join you. Are you going to participate in street protests? You say it is expensive and I say it's expensive. What is next?” said Ayvazyan. Watch the video to know the opinion of our fellow citizens.
