ELECTRICITY, GAS AND WATER PRICES TO GROW IN ARMENIA JANUARY 1

PanARMENIAN.Net - Beginning with January 1, 2004 electric power, gas and water tariffs will increase in Armenia, prime minister Andranik Margarian said in the parliament yesterday. In his words, the government is still discussing that issue with the Commission for Coordination of Natural Monopolies. The prime minister reminded that the recent rise in electricity prices in Armenia was in 1998 and since then the shift of the dollar exchange rate as compared to dram has made 8%. It is easy to calculate that prices will increase 3%. In his words, the tariff sizes are being counted at present to mitigate the social consequences of the expected rise in prices. "It is not ruled out for the issue to be settled at the legislative level," - A. Margarian noted.