"Umid" Party: Reduce Cost of Energy, Rather than Increase Prices

The "Umid" party issued a statement condemning the government's plans to raise utility prices. The documents pointed out that the draft of the state budget in 2014 provides an increase to the cost of utilities and communications.

Compared with 2013, prices will increase by 84.8 %, more than 641 million against 346.8 million manat. The government forecasts in the future, energy costs will increase by 25.5 %, water by 26.7 %, and gas by 18.9%. This is an increase of tariffs for electricity, water and gas, according to the statement of the party "Umid".

These measures will cause inflation. The "Umid" party doubts official statements that growth will improve the quality of service in these areas.

The party calls on the government to publish the cost of electricity, water and gas. In this case, the party recalls that the production of 1 kWth of electricity in Azerbaijan requires 450 grams of fuel, but everywhere in the world, even with the use of old technologies for the production of a specified amount of electricity used is only 220 grams of conventional fuel.

The official cost for the production of 1,000 cubic meters of gas for general consumption is 84 manat, while in Russia, the figure is about 56 manat, and in Iran and Turkmenistan, the cost is 42 manat.

The government seeks to offset the high costs of energy production by the increase in prices for the utilities.

The" Umid" party called on the Government to refrain from raising rates, because otherwise these measures will worsen the already difficult social situation of the population. "If, in the field of democracy, the Government of Azerbaijan can not get closer to Europe,  let it take  an example of Turkmenistan, which provides energy to the population at subsidized prices," reads the statement the  of the party “Umid.”—06D--