Because of lari's devaluation, Georgia increases electricity tariff by one-third

From August 1 on, the electricity tariff in Georgia will go up by 32.2%. The tariff increase will cover most regions of the country, except for residents of Tbilisi and consumers of the "Kakheti Energy Company".

The decision to increase the tariff was adopted at a sitting of the National Commission for Regulating Power and Water Supplies of Georgia. Starting August 1, residents of almost all the regions of the country will pay for their consumed electricity by 3.3 tetris (0.014 USD) more for each kilowatt/hour. The tariff will be valid until the end of the year.

The change will cover all the consumers of the "Energo-Pro Georgia" Company, which supplies electricity to 70% of the country's territory, the "Interfax" reports.

According to Irina Milorava, the Chair of the above National Commission, the change is mainly caused by the tariff components, affected by the devaluation of the national currency.

"These are the financial losses of the thermal power plants, which generate electricity from natural gas, and the imported electricity, the price of which is defined in US dollars," Ms Milorava has commented.

The Government of Georgia plans to create a new subsidy programme for the increased electricity tariff for socially vulnerable population, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.