DUSHANBE, March 13, 2012, Asia-Plus — The Political Council of the Islamic Revival Party (IRP) met in Dushanbe on Monday to discuss new electricity rate for residential customers.
A statement, released by the IRP Political Council, says a 20 percent increase in the electricity rate for residential customers will affect the economic and social situation of the population.
“There is no doubt that reforms being carried out in the energy sector make change electricity rates, but the public institutions must take into account living conditions of the population while setting new prices,” the statement noted.
The IRP Political Council also considers it illogical to term recommendations of international financial organizations as argument for raising electricity prices. “It means that the authorities do not take responsibility before the people.”
The IRP Political Council calls on the Government to revoke its decision and keep current electricity rates. The IRP Political Council also proposes the Government to change its policy of setting preferential electricity prices for some industrial enterprises.
We will recall that Tajikistan”s government has approved more than 20 percent increase in the price of electricity for residential customers — from current 9 to 11 dirams beginning on April 1.
Electricity prices will rise from 21.2 to 26.63 dirams for industrial enterprises, from 8.5 to 10.63 dirams for federally funded institutions and public utilities, and from 0.57 to 1.88 dirams for pump stations, irrigation wells and electrical transportation.
Nozirjon Yodgori, a spokesman for Barqi Tojik, says the new tariffs were set in accordance with Article 51 of the RT Law “On the Standard Legal Acts.” Price hikes were also introduced to ensure implementation of the program of strategy of reforms in the energy sector and to make the country”s hydroelectric power sector more attractive to investors, he added.
For the last time, the electricity prices in Tajikistan were raised in January of 2010.
