Regulator to initiate revision of electricity tariffs

ArmInfo. The Public Services  Regulatory Commission (PSRC) will initiate revision of the tariffs of  services provided by the electric power system companies generating  electricity and rendering relevant services to the ultimate  consumers.   

The PSRC press office has told ArmInfo that given the changes of the  electricity capacity balance forecasted from 1 Feb 2017 to 1 Feb  2018, after receiving Gazprom Armenia's request to revise the gas  tariffs for TPPs, based on Article 22 Parts 5 and 6 of the Armenian  Law "On Energy", the Regulator will initiate revision of the tariffs  of services provided by the electric power system companies  generating electricity and rendering relevant services to the  ultimate consumers. The decision on the new gas tariff will come into  effect on 1 Jan 2017.  

Earlier ArmInfo reported that the Regulator intends to revise the  electricity tariff on its own initiative. Like in the case of gas  supply, the PSRC promises to set preferential terms for vulnerable  groups of population

Garegin Baghramyan, Head of the PSRC Tariff Policy Department, told  ArmInfo correspondent that for this category the gas tariff decrease  will be more tangible than for other groups of consumers. When asked  by ArmInfo about possible decrease of the tariff at least in the  limits of the latest revision, which is 5.9%, or 2.58 AMD, the  Commission representative answered that he thinks there are not  enough resources for that.  "Maybe a special decision on a larger  decrease for preference categories will be taken, but I guess it is  not applicable to all the other groups," Baghramyan mentioned.  According to statements made by PSRC, there are factors that directly  influence the tariff formation. For instance, such is the planned  stop and refueling of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant.  

To remind, the company previously reported that its request implies  diversification of subscribers and tariffs: 1. the subscribers having  the right to social allowances and consuming less than 600 cu m of  gas per annum will pay 100 thsd AMD per 1 thsd cu m; 2. greenhouse  facilities will pay 212 conventional units per 1 thsd cu m from  November 1 till March 31; 3. processing enterprises will pay 212  conventional units per 1 thsd cu m; 4.  subscribers consuming less  than 10 thsd cu m per month will pay 139 thsd AMD per 1 thsd cu m; 5.  subscribers consuming more than 10 thsd cu m of gas per month will  pay 242.1 conventional units per 1 thsd cu m.  For every consequent  thousand of cu m they will be charged USD 212.  Along with that,  there are no bonuses set out for gas filling stations, budget funded  entities and TPPs generating electric power for domestic consumption. 

To recall, once appointed Prime Minister, Karen Karapetyan stressed  the need to revise the gas and electricity tariffs.  He also pointed  out the need to reduce the impact of the tariffs on the vulnerable  social groups, as well as to ensure a galvanizing effect of the  tariffs on business development, specifically in agriculture and  processing industry.