YEREVAN. – Increase in electricity rate is conditioned by objective reasons, Deputy Energy Minister Areg Galstyan said during the NATO PA Rose-Roth seminar in Yerevan.

“I understand that the rise in electricity price causes serious social problems, but there was no alternative. I can not say how much it had to increase since it is the result of detailed calculations of the Public Services Regulatory Commission,” Galstyan said.

The Deputy Minister said the electricity rate was not increased because of bad management, but objective reasons, first of all, changes in the value of dollar and dram as well as difficult financial situation in the companies.

“We, unfortunately, could not produce cheap electricity, and did it with the help of thermal power plants instead, which is several times more expensive,” he emphasized.

Asked whether the demands by participants of the sit-in not to rise electricity rate are unjustified, the official said: “I think, yes”.

Despite numerous actions against electricity price rise, Public Services Regulatory Commission confirmed the increase in electricity rate by 6.93 drams during the meeting on June 17. The Electric Networks of Armenia offered to increase price by 17 drams.