Kakhetians Cheated by Georgian President Saakashvili

In the run-up to the snap presidential elections Mikheil Saakashvili made promises that he has not kept. He had publicly announced that an agreement had been reached between the Georgian government and clients of the Energy-Distribution Companies, and the impact would positive for consumers in both Tbilisi and in regions. They would be discharged from arrears on their electricity bills that accumulated before June 1 2007.

The above-mentioned statement of that time presidential candidate was confirmed by representatives of the Ministry of Energy. Moreover, the energy-distribution companies had informed consumers in written form that they would be discharged from such old debts. However, following the elections, it has since turned out that the debt was not canceled. The Energy-Distribution Companies are still demanding the people are responsible for paying off the old debts; those who will not pay will be faced with having their electricity disconnected

“We would kindly inform you that as a result of the agreement between the Georgian government and JSC Kakheti Energy-Distribution Company you are discharged from the arrears of 157 GEL that was accumulated prior to June 1 2007,” Lia Pitiurishvili, a resident of Gurjaani had received a written notification. Thousands of similar notifications were sent to other subscribers by Kakheti Energy-Distribution Company. However, this was prior to January 5 2008, when snap Presidential Elections were conducted.

In the first part of February of 2008 Lia Piturishvili, showed up at the Gurjaani service center of the Energy-Distribution Company, and she was told that she had to pay not only her current bill but arrears as well.  “The cashier told me I had a debt of 157 GEL and unless I also paid that debt, I would be cut off from being supplied with electricity. I showed them the notification I had received from their company.  However, the teller told me they did not care about that agreement; I still had to pay the arrears,” said Pitiurishvili.

Tamar Tamazashvili was also demanded to pay off arrears from long ago. “The amount of the debt in the notifications has been increased. On the notification my debt is 31 GEL instead of the actual 18 GEL. Nobody was able to explain why the bill had been increased. I was simply told to pay the amount indicated in the bill. Pre-election promise were not only broken but I was financially damaged as well,” explained the consumer.

The Energy-Distributing Company has already cut of the electricity supply to several dozens subscribers as a show of its resolve. “Being left without electricity I had no choice but to pay the bill. And when I went to pay it I learned that it had been artificially inflated. Prior to this I had even applied to the local authority to in an effort to learn more about the situation. I showed them the notification from the distribution company but they stated that they were not in the position to assist me. They said the Kakheti Energy Distribution Company was a private company and that’s why they were not about to interfere in its activities. Other subscribers also paid the same debts at the cash-desk of the distribution company. Electricity was only reconnected after the debt had been paid. The government deceived so many people when it broke its election period promises. Now I understood that all what I heard was just lies from the government,” shared Mevlud Mchedlishvili, who lives in Sighnaghi.

Zurab Dighmelashvili, the director of the JSC Kakheti Energy Distribution Company, did not deny that they have not discharged the subscribers from the arrears. “Telavi District Court has discussed the case on bankruptcy of the JSC. Consequently, only a judge has the authority to cancel outstanding debts and make other decisions about the company. Nobody has applied to the court in demanding a decision on this problem. Thus, there is no document based on which the company is able to operate in discharging subscribers from their arrears,” said Dighmelashvili.

Badur Guliashvili, deputy Regional Governor, reported that the regional administration does not have information about the situation. “Kakheti Energy-Distribution Company does not have right to demand subscribers to pay debts that have been cancelled. Every person, who was demanded that he or she have to pay the arrears, should now apply to us. We then react,” concluded the deputy governor.

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti