Georgia to See Increased Electricity Tariffs From 2018

Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission has decided that the electricity tariffs will increase in Georgia from January 1, 2018.

In particular, electricity provider Telasi subscribers in Tbilisi will see their tariffs increased by 1.5 tetris and the price per kWh electricity will be 12,980 tetris for people who consume less than 101 kilowatts electricity. For the second category of subscribers, who consume around 101 - 301 kilowatts tariff will be 16,992 tetris, and for people who consume more than 301 kilowatts - 21,476 tetris.

As for the regions, according to the regulator’s decision on electricity provider Energo-Pro Georgia tariffs, its subscribers will see the tariff increased by 1,28 tetris and people who consume less than 101 kilowatts electricity have to pay 12,954 tetris per kWh electricity. Those, who consume around 101 - 301 kilowatts will pay 16,931 tetris, and people who consume more than 301 kilowatts - 21,450 tetris per kWh.

The tariffs will increase for non-residential sector as well. New tariffs will take effect from January 1, 2018 and will be in force till the end of 2020.

The increase of tariffs was followed by harsh criticism from the opposition and population. They the reminded the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party that reduced utility tariffs was their pre-election promise.

Irina Sakuashvili, the Head of Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission, explained that the increase in the tariffs was caused by the high volume of investments by companies and not by the new currency rate.

“There is an increased demand on electricity, which requires investments in two directions: transmission network and distribution network should be strengthened, and new HPPs have to be integrated into a hydro power network,” Sakuashvili said.

She added that the total amount of necessary investments for the next three years amounts 1.2 billion Gel which consequently reflected in tariffs.

By Thea Morrison