Price of Electricity in Armenia Increased Six Times More Than Expected: MP

After the increase in the price of natural gas, the price of electricity should've increased by 1.2 dram, but it increased by 8 dram, said Armenian National Congress MP Aram Manukyan in parliament today during discussion of the draft law on amendments to the Law on Energy.

According to him, the company Electrical Networks of Armenia, just as Gazprom Armenia, increases the price on its sole discretion; as a result, the average (monthly) salary at Electrical Networks of Armenia, for example, has become 230,000 AMD (about $555 USD), which is more than twice the average salary in the Republic of Armenia. The MP also mentioned that Gazprom — at the expense of Armenian citizens — is improving the working conditions of its employees: after the increase in the price of gas, it hired 1,000 new employees.

Another charge against Electrical Networks of Armenia echoed by Manukyan is that the company purchases electricity from hydropower stations cheaply and sells it at a high price. According to him, the government must have leverage against Electrical Networks of Armenia in deciding the price of electricity.