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“Socar” Is Blamed in Violation of Customers’ Rights

July 12, 2010

Gela Mtivlishvili

The Kaheti region population protests the increased tariff on natural gas. Locals state that “Socar Georgia Gas” increased the tariff by 10 tetri, and only for those customers who became their subscribers after May 1, 2010.

Residents of the Vejini village in the Gurjaani district state that gasification activities finished before the elections in the village; most of the population were registered as customers of the natural gas company after May 1.

“Socar” owns seven gas distribution companies in the Kakheti region. The population does not have any choice but to obey the decision of the company.

Chairman of the Georgian National Regulation Commission of Energy and Water Supply, Guram Chalagashvili, stated that the commission cannot interfere in the process of setting the tariff. This is because the regulation of natural gas tariffs is determined by resolutions set forth by the Minister of Energy.

“Since September 1, 2008, based on the resolution of the Ministry of Energy, amendments were introduced to the commission’s resolution and the supply of the natural gas was declared regulated; and partly regulated before August 1, 2008 for those customers who did not use natural gas for commercial enterprises. The National Regulation Commission regulates the tariff only for previously established subscribers. The companies are currently entitled to establish the tariff based on their own decision. The commission cannot interfere in this process,” said Guram Chalagashvili.

Energy-Ombudsman, Valeri Pkhakadze, blames Socar in the blatant violation of the customers’ rights. He said that the company will force 178 natural gas subscribers in the Kakheti region to pay more than 12 tetri which makes total 60 tetri. This tariff seems to have been selfishly determined by the Socar Company. The Energy-Ombudsman intends to meet the representatives of Socar to hear their justification for the increased payment.

Socar might have to provide a reasonable valid argument for the increased tariff before the Georgian Parliament. Radio “Commersant” reports that the Deputy Chairman of the Economic Committee of the Parliament, Temur Tsurtsumia, said that the committee should hear the arguments from the company representatives. He stated that 60 tetri is a rather excessive tariff for the Kakheti region population.

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