For the three months number of subscribers grew by 2.7%

In the second quarter of this year the number of subscribers to JSC Azersu, state natural monopoly on water supply and sanitation services, increased by 35,000 or 2.7%.

As of July 1, the number of water users for a fee amounted to 1,282,100 subscribers. Of these, 1,235,700 (96.3%) belong to the category of the population. In the second quarter, the number of official sign-flats to the water network increased by 2.5%. During this period, to the subscribers were added commercial users of water, which reached 46 500 in number (+10%).

The press service of Azersu does not comment on such a sharp increase in its subscribers. We must assume that this is the result of improving control over use of water by eliminating illegal connections, as well as the expansion of water supply system in the country.

Nevertheless, the level of water measuring devices to ensure consumers remains low. At the beginning of July this year, water meters were provided to 55.6% of subscribers (714,500) of JSC Azersu. In the group of non-population the figure is 82.2%.

It should be noted that in 2006 the government announced a three-year program to ensure 100 per cent of subscribers with water meters. However, it does not suit Azersu, since in this case the parameters will be determined upon the supply of water, and not according to the standards, which are often exaggerated. Even more effective are smart meters, running on a prepaid basis. Their use in the electricity and gas supplies has led to lower consumption of energy products and almost 100 percent payment for the services. --08D-