ArmInfo. For many years, tariffs for connecting new subscribers to the Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC were far from realistic. RA Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Gnel Sanosyan stated.
He drew attention to the fact that for this connection, the electric networks of Armenia spent more than the citizen himself paid. In particular, the company itself paid a significant part of the amount of 60 thousand drams, including these expenses in its investment program. <When we have problems with frequent power cuts, and the question is raised why the networks do not regulate the situation, the latter answer that they spend their money in other areas, and cannot maintain the proper condition of infrastructures, carry out repairs, etc.>, Sanosyan said. He added that new subscribers will pay several times more, up to 300,000 drams depending on the capacity, but these funds will not be taken into account when the company implements its investment programs.
At the same time, the minister pointed out the problem of registering more capacities than are consumed. As a result, the capacity of one or another substation is consumed, and in order to connect new subscribers, it is necessary to build a new substation, which entails new costs, and, as a result, will affect tariffs. <If you are satisfied with 4 kW, don't get 10 kW. And if you take 10, then pay for 10," said Sanosyan.
It should be noted that the tariffs for connection to power grids have not changed since 2008, and, according to PSRC representatives, they were below cost. Garegin Baghramyan, Chairman of the Public Services Regulatory Commission of the Republic of Armenia, stated that the average number of connections will increase by 2-3 times. He added that the appropriate payment scale would be applied on a case-by-case basis. It should be reminded that the PSRC decided to increase the tariffs for connection to networks from April 1 of this year.
