The price of electricity for the vast majority of Armenian households is very likely to grow by 4.7 drams (US$0.0096) per 1 kWh starting February 1, 2022, Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) revealed.
At the same time the PSRC suggests that the cost of electricity for socially disadvantaged layers of the population (11% of the population) remain unchanged, ARKA reports.
The cost of electricity for households which consume up to 200 kWh monthly (55% of consumers) is to increase by 1.5 drams per kWh (US$0.0031), while those which use 201-400 kWh (25% of consumers) are to pay by 3,5 drams (US$0.0071) more per kWh. The cost for those which use more is to grow by 5.5 drams per kWh (US$0.011).
The PSRC said it will hold public hearings on December 23 to discuss the proposed price changes.
In late 2020 Armenia's Public Services Regulatory Commission had approved a 3 dram (US$0.0061) rise in electricity prices, which came into force on February 1, 2021. The rise applies to those households, which consume more than 400 kWh per month, which according to some estimates, make 10% of all households across the country.
The price rose for them to 47.98 drams (US$0.098) for daytime electricity and to 37.98 drams (US$0,077) for nighttime electricity.
The prices for socially disadvantaged strata of the population are now 29.99 drams (US$0,061) and 19.99 drams (US$0.041) per 1 kWh respectively.
Currently, other Armenian households pay 44.98 drams (US$0,092) per 1 kWh for daytime consumption (from 7 am to 11 pm) and 35 drams (US$0.071) for nighttime consumption (from 11 pm to 7 am).
The PSRC explained the rise by a financial gap that emerged after the revision of tariffs of large power generating stations.
Armenia’s national power distribution company- Electric Networks of Armenia - is owned and run by Tashir Group of Companies, owned by a Russia-based billionaire of Armenian origin Samvel Karapetyan, who acquired the facility from the Russian energy holding Inter RAO UES in September 2015.
