I visualize the “Electric Networks of Armenia” company as a “vacuum cleaner”, which in all cases, regardless of how much the price of this product grows, will swallow our money because the tool is not designed for doing business, it is not a business structure. ENA is a Russian state company aimed at pulling money from the people’s pockets. I have no doubt that if the owner is not changed, this price hike will continue, and beating the record on electricity pride in the CIS countries, we will not be limited to, in 1-2 years we will go ahead of the whole world.
When ENA begins working by business rules, even by Armenia’s poor and oligarchic rules, the entire problem will gradually vanish. Energy in Armenia is profitable (it is not my but academician Abel Aghanbekyan’s opinion). The sector will bring profit if it is not in the hands of greedy, incompetent and business-development-lacking-motivation bureaucrats. If the businessman has no incentive to sell the product in larger quantities and, vice versa, being confident that his products anyway will be sold, he will not raise a finger and the only “way out” is to increase the tariff each year in the event of gradually decreasing consumption.
The problem, hence, is not so much in the reversal of the decision by the Public Services Regulatory Commission, as in finding the fundamental solutions, which, in fact, can also be compromising to some extent. One of the options – the nationalization – was mentioned by the Head of the “Republic” party, Aram Sargsyan. It is quite a normal solution. In Britain, for example, the railways was nationalized and privatized several times, depending on whether the conservatives come to power or the liberals. The law at the moment does not allow many things associated with the changes in price. Let’s not touch the legal matters about what the RA President, Constitutional Court, and the Public Services Regulatory Commission can do. But aren’t we who write this law, I mean, the National Assembly?
Consequently, the lawmakers should not only try to shape their attitude towards the protests taking place, but also be involved in their immediate business – the legislation. I understand that the political intrigues are more interesting and harmless as they do not assume any responsibility. But it seems to me that the situation now is not standard, and our lawmakers are able to overcome their innate laziness and think about the legislative solutions.
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The NA Speaker has the opportunity to gather the leaders of the factions and listen to their suggestions on this subject. No hearings are required during which only populist speeches are voiced but agreed bills for particularly energy problems.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
