Azerigaz loses control over the counters

Baku/03.08.23/Turan: According to the State Service of Azerbaijan for Antimonopoly Control and Supervision of the Consumer Market, the laboratory of meter verification of the Azerigaz Production Association will now be under the control of the Institute of Metrology. The agreement on this was signed between the Institute of Metrology, which is part of the State Service for Antimonopoly Control and Supervision of the Consumer Market under the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, and Azerigaz of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR).

The main purpose of this agreement is to ensure that the meters are checked by an independent organization, and not by a supplier company. The laboratory's responsibilities will include checking both household and industrial measuring instruments, as well as determining and confirming their compliance with metrological requirements (error standards). In addition, the laboratory will be responsible for the repair and calibration of industrial-type meters and volume correctors. She will also be tasked with identifying any cases of forgery or interference with the operation of gas meters.

The change will allow achieving more reliable results, optimizing processes and increasing efficiency, ultimately protecting the rights and interests of home consumers and entrepreneurs.

The agreement will enter into force on January 1, 2024.

Mehman Aliyev, director of the Turan news Agency, who has been advocating for transparency of public services for many years, especially those related to gas, water and electricity, considers this decision to be correct. However, in his opinion, meter verification laboratories should also be removed from the structure of the electric distribution company of JSC "Azerishig" and the water distribution company of JSC "Azersu". In addition, Aliyev considers it necessary to create a modern domestic enterprise that would produce meters of all types.--0--