DUSHANBE, December 21, 2011, Asia-Plus – The issue of raising electricity prices has not yet been considered, the source in Barqi Tojik power holding (the state-owned utility responsible for generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in Tajikistan) told Asia-Plus on Wednesday.
“The government has not considered the issue of raising electricity prices so far and all rumors around this issue are just mere guesswork,” said the source. “Rise in electricity prices has been considered this year; new tariffs have been endorsed by the antimonopoly agency but the government has not approved them.”
Upon recommendations of international financial institutions, Tajikistan ought to raise electricity prices by 20 percent twice a year in order to make the energy sector profitable, but the government has not raised the electricity prices for already two years, he added.
The antimonopoly agency says they have not yet received new electricity tariffs for coordination. “In late 2010, we endorsed new electricity prices offered by Barqi Tojik but the government did not approve them,” said the antimonopoly agency source. “I cannot say anything about 2012, but before introducing new fees Barqi Tojik must coordinate them with the antimonopoly commission.”
We will recall that current prices of one kWh of electricity are 9 dirams (equivalent to 2.06 cents) for residential customers, 21.3 dirams (4.87 cents) for industrial enterprises, 8.5 dirams (1.95 cents) for federally funded institutions and public utilities, and 0.57 dirams (0.13 cents) for pump stations and electrical transportation. Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO) pays 8.2 dirams (equivalent to 1.86 cents) for usage of one kWh of electricity.
