MPs to raise the price of gas and electricity

The decision of the Tariff Council on increase of prices for gas and electricity is only a means to fill the budget at the expense of the population, and will not have a long-term economic effect, Turan correspondent was told by Fazil Mustafa,  the MP, head of the party "Great Creation". In his opinion, this is putting a burden of providing income to budget on the shoulders of the population.   The  increase in energy prices will seriously affect agriculture and farmers.

According to Mustafayev, the decision came as a shock to the population, which has not yet recovered from the two devaluations. "I am not also happy with the rise in prices, as well as all citizens. But there are other processes. The companies producing the gas and electricity have debts, they cannot pay salaries to employees. Such a situation could not continue for long because it would lead to the paralysis of the activities of these companies. The government should have been either written off the debts of a company, or eliminate them by taxes. Therefore, as a way out of the situation it was decided to raise rates," said another MP Rasim Musabekov.

In his view, the majority of the population will not feel the increase directly. "However, this does not mean that the increase will not have  consequences," said the deputy. He noted that the increase will be reflected in the increase in cost of production and service industries.

The MP described the decision to revise the tariffs as a choice "between bad and very bad."

*On November 28 the Tariff (Price) Council decided to impose "a differentiated system" of payment of some public services.

Prices for natural gas for the population, the annual consumption of which does not exceed 1500 cubic meters, maintained at 0.1 manat per one cubic meter. The use of gas in excess of 1500 cubic meters will cost AZN 0.2 per cubic meter. The price of one kilowatt-hour of electricity for consumers whose monthly consumption does not exceed 250 kilowatts/hour, maintained at 0.07 manat, over the limit for each kilowatt people  will now have to pay 0.11 manat.-06D--