ARMENIA’S WATER PRICE TO RISE FROM APRIL 1
ARKA
March 5, 2009
YEREVAN, March 5. /ARKA/. The RA Public Services Regulatory Commission
(PSRC) approved last week the Armenian Water & Sewerage Company’s
water tariff rise. From April 1, consumers are to pay 179.78 drams
per cubic meter of water, compared to current 140 drams.
On January 10, 2009, Armenian Water & Sewerage Co. filed an application
for raising the current water price form 140 drams to 197.33 drams
per cubic meters.
The water price in Armenia had not changed since 2005, said Armen
Arshakyan, head of the PSRC Department for Tariff Policy.
"Our estimations show that the water price rise will have no
significant impact on consumers," Arshakyan added.
In his turn, Armenian Water & Sewerage General Director Patrick Lorin
said the new tariff would help the company expand business and raise
the water supply level in Armenia’s regions.
In 2004, the French SAUR S.A. signed a contract with the Government of
Armenia, becoming the manager of Armenian Water and Sewerage Company
(AWSC).
AWSC has four branches in Armenia with centers in Sevan, Abovyan,
Sisyan and Artashat cities. Last year’s profit of the company totaled
$2.7bln drams, compared to 1.1bln drams in 2005. For the past four
years, AWSC attracted $15mln investments, with its own resources
totaling 700mln drams.
AWSC currently has 270,000 subscribers in Armenia (around 1mln
residents in 286 villages and 37 cities).
Last year, the government granted 1.366bln drams worth state subsidies
to the company. This year, AWSC will get only 863mln drams from
the government.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
