Karabakh to see power price hike from Aug. 11: Armenian suppliers to blameJuly 23, 2014 - 16:10 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Major consumers will be affected by the electricity tariff hike to enter force August 11, while the remaining subscribers will have the price increase subsidized by the government, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Prime Minister Ara Harutyunyan said, according to ARKA. Starting from August 10, Artsakhenergo, the republic’s electricity-supplying company, will be selling electric power at AMD 41.85 drams per KWt-hour in the daytime and AMD 36.85 at nighttime, up from AMD 38 and 33 set in 2013. As the official noted at a news conference, explaining reasons behind the price hike, Artsakhenergo buys electricity from various sources, including some Armenian power-generating plants at AMD 25 per KWt-hour. According to Harutyunyan, in calculating the new price, losses amounting to AMD 5 per KWt-hour were factored in, as well as salaries of the company’s employees (AMD 8) plus AMD 3 for possible technical disorders. As Harutyunyan noted, investors demand to set the same prices as in Armenia for construction of small hydro power plants. Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission has approved an almost 10 percent rise in electricity prices for households, allowing the Electrical Networks of Armenia to charge AMD 41.85 per kWh in the daytime (from 7:00 to 23:00), up from current AMD 38 and AMD 31.5 at nighttime (from 23:00 to 7:00), up from current AMD 28. The decision comes into force on 1 August 2014. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Turkey extends military presence in Azerbaijan The Turkish parliament has adopted a bill submitted by Recep Tayyip Erdogan to extend the mandate of Turkish troops. Russia to begin assessing migrant workers' speaking skills Rosobrnadzor is planning to change the Russian language exam for migrant workers and include an assessment of speaking skills Armenian, Saudi Foreign Minister meet in Riyadh The two commended the positive dynamics of the development of political dialogue between Armenia and Saudi Arabia Pashinyan: Azerbaijan’s proximity shouldn’t worry border residents At the same time, he said that he “does not guarantee [the security of villagers] one hundred percent”. |