Plan to increase power bill suspended at parliament—but likely to go ahead next year

NAY PYI TAW—The Union Assembly parliament has decided to scrap the government’s plan to increase electricity fees as of this month—but only until the next fiscal year, when it is expected to go ahead only after it has been scrutinized at the parliamentary level.

The decision came after Mahlaing MP Aye Maung submitted an urgent proposal to reduce power fees to the parliament on November 8, and the majority of MPs objected to the plan to increase electricity fees.

“We will accept the decision of the Union Assembly,” said Minister of Electric Power Khin Maung Soe, in response to the vote.

Regarding the increased power bill plan, Union Assembly Speaker Thura Shwe Mann said that the minister discussed the strategic power policy based on a 30-year plan. He said it was important to think of the power bill in terms of whether it is appropriate to the current age or not. The project needed to be practical in terms of how the country would generate sufficient power to meet the target of the 30-year plan.

“In recent days, the union minister told us that the increased power bill would be suspended, but it would go ahead in the following fiscal year only after parliament has scrutinized the plan. He came to clarify that matter at the parliament. The Union Assembly parliament supported the plan to increase the power bill as the minister suggested,” said Thura Shwe Mann.

The Ministry of Electric Power was recently much criticised for increasing electricity charges, as it did not seek public input or a decision of the parliament.

source: Eleven Myanmar

http://elevenmyanmar.com/politics/4053-plan-to-increase-power-bill-suspended-at-parliament-but-likely-to-go-ahead-next-year