YEREVAN. - Electricity tariff in Armenia may already be lowered by 4 AMD (by 8%), Aram Manukyan, Secretary of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) faction, said in the parliament today.

According to him, during a month after the sale of the “Electric Networks of Armenia” CJSC to a new owner, electricity fees have grown by 120 million AMD. That is, unaccounted losses in the network decreased exactly by that amount, the MP said.

“This means that the losses may reduce by 2-3%. Therefore, only in Yerevan the tariff may be lowered by 1,8-2 AMD. And considering that the losses or “the shadow” can be reduced in the republic the same way, the tariff can be lowered by 4 AMD,” Manukyan said.

Following strong protests against electricity price hike in Armenia, President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan announced on June 27 that before the completion of an international audit, the government will bear the entire burden of the electricity price hike, namely 6,93 AMD (considering this amount, the tariff reached 48,78 AMD or about $10,3 cents per KWh).

The subsidies will continue until the completion of the analysis by Deloitte & Touche CIS consulting company, selected as a result of an international tender. The company plans to complete the audit in 16 weeks.