The fact that electric power tariffs have grown for three times in Armenia since 2009, means that the economy of the republic is unpredictable. This frightens investors to make long-term investments in the Armenian economy, secretary of the ARFD parliamentary faction, Aghvan Vardanyan, said during today's briefing in the parliament.
He also added that there is no guarantee that the electric power tariffs will not grow in the near future. "It is bad that we do not even know, why the Electrical Networks of Armenia has been working with loss. Does the loss have partial or impartial reasons, or is a result of non-effective management? The authorities of Armenia have always said the energy system of the republic is one of the best ones", - he said.
For his part, a member of the parliament from the Prosperous Armenia Party faction, Mikael Melkumyan, said raising of the electric power tariffs is a way of replenishment of the budgetary funds. "The financial "gap" in the budget of the CJSC "Armenian Electric Networks" amounted to 20 billion AMD. After raising of the electrical power tariffs, this sum will be restored. But will the tariffs be reduced after that? Certainly, they will not. And the funds will go to the state budget", - he said.
Secretary of the PAP parliamentary faction, Naira Zohrabyan, said the explanation of the authorized structures about the necessity of the electric power tariffs raising did not assure the party which will fight such a decision.
To note, starting 1 August, electric power tariffs will grow by 3,8-4,3 AMD for 1 Kwt/h (VAT including). At present the electric power tariff is 30 AMD/1 kWT/h.