Tbilisi Doubles Tariffs on Water
The fixed tariff for water consumption in Tbilisi has increased from the current GEL 1.2 to GEL 2.4 per family member per month, starting from January 15.
Unlike households, organizations and enterprises pay a tariff per consumed cubic meters of water. The tariff will now increase from GEL 2.5 to GEL 4.4 per cubic meter.
Gegi Kelbakiani, chief executive of Tbilisi Water Ltd, which is run by the capital city municipality, said that even this increased tariff is not enough to properly maintain the water infrastructure in Tbilisi.
The opposition Labor Party, which protested against the price hike decision, said that the authorities are preparing the capital city?s water infrastructure for privatization, and the tariff was increased as part of this policy.
According to the Tbilisi Municipality, the city budget will pay half of the tariff of socially vulnerable residents of the capital Tbilisi.
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