The World Bank has positively assessed the new regulatory framework introduced by Georgia’s Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (GNERC) for the country’s irrigation sector.
According to GNERC, the World Bank considers the reforms an important step toward more transparent, predictable, and accountable irrigation water management. The bank highlighted Georgia’s transition to volume-based tariffs and differentiated pricing approaches for wholesale and retail water users as a potential example for other countries.
GNERC said the new rules establish clearer conditions for water supply, usage schedules, billing procedures, and consumer protection mechanisms, creating an institutional foundation for further reform of the irrigation sector.
The assessment comes after new, higher irrigation tariffs entered into force on April 1, 2026. Farmers without metered systems now pay GEL 116.5 per irrigation cycle for annual crops, compared with the previous annual fee of GEL 75. The government will subsidize three irrigation cycles per season, while farmers will cover additional usage costs.
