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.