Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUSHANBE703
2006-04-14 05:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Dushanbe
Cable title:  

TAJIK GOVERNMENT ENACTS HOUSEHOLD EXCESS ELECTRICITY RATE

Tags:  PGOV ECON EINV SOCI AF PK TI 
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VZCZCXRO3224
PP RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0703 1040544
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 140544Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7232
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1468
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1468
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1518
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1540
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1538
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1309
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1555
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1093
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 0886
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1526
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 8435
UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000703 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR, EB, S/P
NSC FOR MILLARD, MERKEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON EINV SOCI AF PK TI
SUBJECT: TAJIK GOVERNMENT ENACTS HOUSEHOLD EXCESS ELECTRICITY RATE

REF: DUSHANBE 668

(U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly. Not
for public Internet.

UNCLAS DUSHANBE 000703

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR, EB, S/P
NSC FOR MILLARD, MERKEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ECON EINV SOCI AF PK TI
SUBJECT: TAJIK GOVERNMENT ENACTS HOUSEHOLD EXCESS ELECTRICITY RATE

REF: DUSHANBE 668

(U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly. Not
for public Internet.


1. (U) According to media reports, the Tajik Anti-Monopoly
Committee approved on April 11 an excess electricity consumption
rate above 250 kWh per month for private households retroactive
to the beginning of April. The base electricity rate remains
the same at 0.5 cent. Per reftel, the 0.5 cent rate is at
approximately 24 percent of the "cost recovery rate" for
Tajikistan currently to produce and distribute electricity. The
new excess electricity consumption rate of 0.9 cent is
approximately 43 percent of the cost recovery rate.


2. (U) An informal survey of Embassy local staff indicates on
average they consume 1,000 kWh per month. However, local
Embassy personnel are wealthier than the average Tajik and
likely use more electricity in their residences in general. The
250 kWh cap for the very cheap rate for power ensures that a
lower rate still is available for everyday needs in the typical
household.


3. (SBU) COMMENT: The government kept this excess electricity
consumption rate change under wraps, despite numerous recent
meetings with PolOff on the very subject, and may have announced
this leading in to the summer when electricity usage drops.
While this is a good first step towards regulating tariffs, the
electricity rates for industry and private businesses remain
unchanged at their low levels. In addition, overall rates in
Tajikistan remain below the cost recovery rate, and this excess
consumption rate is unlikely to significantly reduce usage by
households that already are above the median income. Moreover,
there are serious gaps in collection, and it remains to be seen
how many people will still be able to "beat the system." END
COMMENT.


SIGNATURE

HOAGLAND