Natural monopolies regulating Agency offers differentiated tariffs for water

Astana, October 30, 2009 (Khabar) - Changes and additions to the law «On natural monopolies and the adjustable markets» were discussed in Astana at session of Public chamber at Majilis. Representatives of all interested parties have taken part in discussion: state bodies, NGOs, suppliers of utilities and deputies of Parliament. The amendments developed by agency on regulation of natural monopolies, assume the new price policy to the petroleum products market, a new design procedure of tariffs for the regional electricity network companies and the differentiated tariffs for water supply services depending on consumption volumes. This system has been already approved in Almaty. Thanks to it water consumption in a city managed to be lowered for 4.5 percent. Now it needs to be fixed in the law.

Nurlan Aldabergenov, chairman of Natural monopolies regulating Agency:
- The main aim of bill is economy of water, energy and resources saving. That is why the law provides flexible system of tariffs. It depends on financial position, region. But the fact is that after the excess the tariff will change.

The majority of members of Public chamber supported agency initiatives and recommended the government to create institute of the prices and tariffs creation which could represent well-founded calculations of tariffs for those or other kinds of the goods and services.

Mels Yeleusizov, president of “Tabigat” ecological union of associations and enterprises:
- We lose the most valuable product, water. Tomorrow wee can be left without a water. Kazakhstan suffers a lot because of water problem. We should place the issue of water economy on the first place. This law should be approved.