Categories
Journalistic Survey
Articles
Reportage
Analitic
Photo Reportage
Exclusive
Interview
Foreign Media about Georgia
Editorial
Position
Reader's opinion
Blog
Themes
Children's Rights
Women's Rights
Justice
Refugees/IDPs
Minorities
Media
Army
Health
Corruption
Elections
Education
Penitentiary
Religion
Others

Kakheti Power Distribution Company Blackmails the Population

January 22, 2007

energo.gifThe JSC Kakheti Power Distribution Company [KPDC] was accused and forced to plead guilty several times. Despite that, the representatives of the company still abuse the subscribers’ rights. The boards of the local service centers, in order to eradicate the hidden use of electricity, in addition to increased taxes on electricity, are going to install individual meters for each family. For that service a family would pay 110 GEL.

The village of Kvemo Bodbe in the Sighnaghi District has not been supplied with electricity for two weeks already. The villagers say that they have paid their electricity bills; however, the Sighnaghi Service Center for the KPDC blamed its subscribers for having allocated the debts of thousands of laris according to their meters.

“We have been trying to find out the real reason for cutting the electricity for three weeks already. The representatives of the KPDC said that the total bill by the common meter is much more than we have paid according to our individual meters. Unless we pay the whole bill, they will not supply us with electricity. We pay what we have spent. If somebody steals electricity, let them punish him. Even so, the representatives of the KPDC told us we have to install new individual meters. Every ten families would have one common meter and each family has to pay ten lari for that purpose. Besides that, they told us we have to pay other expenses during installation. Even if we agree, nobody cares how we could get so much money in winter,” Nargiz Khunashvili could not help her anger.

“They demanded us to write appeals for the installation of the new individual and common meters ourselves. If we do not obey, they will make us pay increased bills on electricity. We will not do either of their demands. What the hell is going on with that KPDC? Their raid in the region should end at last,” said Giorgi Barnabishvili who added that the people have appealed to the local government for help several times in vain.
 
“Having received no replies from the KPDC, we appealed to the Sighnaghi Municipality for help. However, nobody paid attention to us there. We were told by the receptionist for Gamgebeli that he was busy and could not meet us. They advised us to come some other time. We called the Administrative Board as well. They promised to find out the situation and assist us but they also forgot about our problems,” said Tamar Janiashvili.

The people decided to hold protest demonstrations to attract attention but the Sighnaghi District Police did not let them.

Zaza Zedelashvili, the Gamgebeli of the Sighnaghi District Municipality said that he had no information about the situation. “I did not know the people had no electricity. The KPDC has not informed me about the fact. I will find out everything and react on the situation by all means,” said Zedelashvili. Later on he said that the people’s accusations were unreasonable and he could not assist them at all.

Journalist: Mr. Zaza, the people are so annoyed with the unfair treatment and inattentiveness of the local authority that they are going to hold protest demonstrations.
Zaza Zedelashvili: What demonstrations are they going to hold? I will call the police and the people will not do anything… Initially they will go out in the street, and then they will get tired and give up,” said Zedealshvili over the phone in his conversation with the Human Rights Center.

Valeri Matiashvili, the manager of the KPDC service center denied the people’s accusations. “The villagers from the Kvemo Bodbe have had electricity cut because they have not paid bills. I know nothing more. I do what I am ordered to.”

Journalist: Will you obey the order even if it is illicit?

Valeri Matiashvili: “Do not ask me such questions. You should go and ask the Telavi office regarding the individual meters and taxes.”

Zurab Janjghava, the manager of the KPDC Bankruptcy Department did not want to comment on the situation with the Human Rights Center. “Employees of the KPDC do their best toe eradicate the debts. However, it is not your business how they manage it,” said Janjghava.

The Lagodekhi population also blamed the regional power company for violations. The residents of the Ninoshvili Street said they have paid their bills; however the PDC Lagodekhi Service Center demanded them to pay an extra 3-10 lari a month.

“I paid an extra 18 lari in December,” said Liza Darchiashvili.

Nodar Bagalashvili, the chief of the KPDC Lagodekhi Service Center confirmed the information too. “The Ninoshvili Street is not an exception where people pay extra money in addition to their bills. The subscribers have already started to pay their bills. I advise the population to appeal to the service center and not journalists for help,” said Bagalashvili.

The Human Rights Center got interested in this situation. According to the center’s Kakheti office, while inquiring about the situation, they found some violations by the officials of the KPDC. They illegally demanded the money and blackmailed the people. The non-governmental organization is gathering materials in order to send to the Financial Police Kakheti Department. Besides that, the Human Rights Center urged the Power Ombudsman for help to react to the frequent violation of subscribers’ rights.

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti

 

News