ArmInfo. Public Services Regulatory Committee of Armenia has imposed a fine in the amount of 5 million drams on the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) CJSC for violating the rules of power supply and consumption as well as obliged the company to correct the inaccurately working digital electric power meters by August 1 2016. The watchdog adopted a protocol on it on April 13.
Earlier, the public services watchdog demanded ENA to correct the electric power meters by December 1 2015. However, in February 2016, the Consultative Center of Consumers NGO and Armenian MP Edmon Marukyan applied to the Committee over numerous complaints of consumers about the improperly working day/night time digital power meters. The watchdog initiated administrative proceedings against ENA CJSC on March 2015 to inquire into the issue.
ENA CJSC admitted the problem explaining it such reasons as heavy financial situation, lack of investments, insufficient financing for replacement of old power meters. Simultaneously, the Company pledged to complete the modernization of the power meters by July 1 2016.
"By present, the Company has already corrected 20% or 70,000 of total digital power meters," ENA Director General Karen Haroutiunyan said. He said digital power meters account for some 35% of total power meters or 365,000 pieces.
Eventually, the watchdog decided to impose 5-million drams fine of ENA , which is the minimum size of administrative fine under Article 42.3 of the Law On Energy. The watchdog pledged ENA to correct the digital power meters by August 1 2016.
In addition, ENA pledged to recompense for the losses of consumers on the basis of individual complaints, Karen Haroutiunyan said.