Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (GNERC) Chair Davit Narmania says that introducing electricity metering in Mestia and properly charging commercial electricity use for crypto mining is essential for stabilizing the local power system.
Speaking to BMG, Narmania noted that electricity consumption in Mestia is excessively high, which has overloaded substations and transmission lines, causing frequent outages and poor voltage quality. He said proper metering would help distinguish between household consumption and commercial use, particularly crypto mining, which must be billed at commercial rates.
According to him, once consumption is properly recorded, overall usage distortions will decrease, easing pressure on the grid. This, in turn, will allow utilities to better maintain and upgrade infrastructure, improving service quality and reliability for consumers.
Narmania also addressed concerns about tariffs, saying that while a price reduction is not expected, improved billing and cost recovery could bring “some relief” to tariffs over time, as the current situation places upward pressure on them.
