ArmInfo. By the end of this week, Gazprom Armenia will apply to the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) to reduce the gas tariffs. Yesterday Gazprom Armenia reported that it suggested reducing the gas tariffs for households from 156 to 146.7 AMD per 1 cu m.
The operator said that the specified reduction concerns subscribers consuming up to 10 thsd cu m of gas per month (households and a part of small and medium businesses). The operator suggests reducing the gas tariff for the subscribers consuming over 10 thsd cu m of gas from 276.98 to 257.56 USD in AMD equivalent (at the AMD/USD exchange rate as of the 25th day of the previous month. The tariff includes VAT).
PSRC Spokesperson Mariam Stepanyan has told ArmInfo that the application will be submitted to the PSRC by the end of the week, according to the regulations. Before that the regulator is to conduct a desk audit of the relevant documents of the company.
To note, under the Armenian Law "On Energy", the tariff can be revised on the initiative of both the licensed entity and the Commission. The Commission revises the tariff (reaffirms or changes it) and issues a decree within 90 days after receiving the licensed entity's application for revision.
To recall, on April 7, during Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Armenia, an agreement was reached to reduce the Russian gas price in Armenia to $150 per 1,000 cu m. Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan told reporters that the two countries'
governments have already signed the relevant document. At the same time, he failed to answer the question whether the gas price will be reduced for the Armenian consumers as well. "That issue is to be additionally discussed," he said. To note, the Russian gas price for
Armenia is currently $165 USD per 1,000 cu m. However, the consumers pay $318 at the current exchange rate, and the large consumers - subscribers purchasing over 10,000 cu m monthly - pay $277 per 1,000 cu m.