On 1 August, a procession was held in Yerevan against the rise in the electric power tariffs. The protest action was organized by the representatives of the civil society, who urged the residents of Yerevan to join the protest by switching off the light in their flats during the action. Heritage Party also joined the protest action.
The demonstrators were moving along Mashtots Avenue and chanting "No to robbery!" and holding candles and bright yellow balloons symbolizing electric bulbs.
The demonstrators read out a statement stressing the need to set up a special commission to study the revenues and expenses of the power generating companies. The initiative "No to robbery!" demands retaining the electricity tariffs unchanged until the investigation is over. The activists said that their demands must be carried out before the first week of September.
To note, similar actions of protest will be held in Gavar, Kapan and Shirak region.
By the Public Services Regulatory Commission's decision that came into effect on 1 Aug 2014, the daytime tariff for the population has grown to 41.85 AMD per 1 KW/h from the previous 38 AMD (10.1% rise), and the nighttime tariff has grown to 31.85 AMD from 28 AMD (13.7% rise). The Commission says that the rise in tariffs is caused by the current 20.3 bln AMD financial deficit in the power generating companies of the republic.