Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze says the government must wait for the Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (GNERC) to decide whether natural gas tariffs will increase, stressing that the matter falls within the regulator’s authority.
“GNERC makes the decision, and I have no right to make statements on its behalf,” Kobakhidze told journalists in response to a question about a possible increase in gas tariffs.
He said the government is holding consultations with the commission but emphasized that the final decision rests solely with GNERC. “We are all obliged to wait for GNERC’s decision. This is not our prerogative. Of course, we are also consulting with the commission, but it is GNERC that makes the decision. First and foremost, we must wait for its decision and comment afterward,” the prime minister said.
Parliament recently passed amendments to the Law on Energy and Water Supply under an accelerated procedure. The changes allow GNERC to introduce differentiated natural gas tariffs based on consumption volumes, meaning that households using more gas could pay higher rates. The same approach may also be applied to water tariffs.
