All electricity consumers should bear the costs generated by their own consumption, including cryptocurrency mining, according to Vano Mechurchlishvili, Director of the Development and Methodological Support Department at Georgia’s National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (GNERC).
Speaking on TV-program Analitics, Mechurchlishvili said the regulator is involved in the ongoing process of electricity metering in Mestia and supports efforts to ensure that energy costs are allocated fairly. “If a user does not pay for the costs they create, someone else has to cover them,” he said, noting that the electricity sector operates on economic principles that require cost recovery.
He said Energy-Pro Georgia has carried out metering and network rehabilitation efforts in the region over the years, although progress has faced various challenges and resistance. Despite some advances, the issue remains unresolved.
Responding to a question about the impact of unpaid electricity consumption linked to crypto mining, Mechurchlishvili said such costs ultimately affect tariffs and are borne by consumers. The government announced on June 1 that households in Mestia will be metered as part of efforts to address the region’s long-standing cryptocurrency mining and electricity consumption challenges.
