Barqi Tojik (Tajikistan’s national power holding) says the upcoming increase in electricity rates practically will not affect the vulnerable sections of the population as the government pays them electricity subsidies.
Pursuant to a 2008 decree of the Government of Tajikistan, additional social assistance is provided through the transfer of compensation payments for gas and electricity for vulnerable families, in which an average monthly income per family member is not more than 50 percent of the established minimum wage.
Current minimum wage in Tajikistan is fixed at 400.00 somoni.
Recall, President Emomali Rahmon, who is Head of the Government of Tajikistan, on August 29 signed a decree on raising electricity prices in Tajikistan beginning on October 1 this year.
The price of one kWh of electricity for residential customers will be raised to 16.85 dirams (15 percent increase).
The price for industrial and non-industrial customers will be raised to 40.99 dirams and the price for federally funded institutions, including public utilities and sports complexes, will rise to 16.85 dirams.
Electricity rates for pumping stations for mechanized irrigation and repair-and-production bases of the Agency for Land Reclamation and Irrigation under the Government of Tajikistan will rise to 5.86 dirams for the period from April 1 to September 30 and to 16.85 dirams for the period from October 1 to March 31.
The price of one KWh of electricity for vertical drainage wells and land reclamation pumping stations will be raised to 5.8 dirams.
Electricity rates for electric boilers, hot water supply and heating system will rise to 101.54 dirams for non-federal sphere and to 30.13 dirams for federally funded institutions.
Meanwhile, prices for the Tajik Aluminum Plant (TALCO) remained unchanged – 7.20 dirams for period from May 1 to September 30 and 11.80 dirams for the period from October 1 to April 30.
For the last time, Tajikistan raised electricity rates in February this year. Electricity rates were raised for four of eight categories of electricity consumers.
By government’s decree issued on February 24 electricity rates have been raised for federally funded institutions, including public utilities and sports complexes, electric transport, pumping stations for mechanized irrigation and repair-and-production bases of the Agency for Land Reclamation and Irrigation under the Government of Tajikistan, and vertical drainage wells and land reclamation pumping stations.
Current prices are 14.65 dirams for residential customers and federally funded institutions, 14.65 dirams for electric transport 5.10 dirams in April-September and 14.65 dirams in October-March for pumping stations for mechanized irrigation and repair-and-production bases of the Agency for Land Reclamation and Irrigation under the Government of Tajikistan, and 5.1 dirams for vertical drainage wells and land reclamation pumping stations.
