The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw has approved an increase in the cost of electricity meter fees from April 1 in a decision which came after a government move to charge more for power was rejected by parliament last November.
The decision, on March 19, came two days after the Ministry of Electric Power called for the increase in a proposal that initially drew criticism from MPs.
And it came a day after concern about the impact of an increase was expressed by MPs at a meeting with officials from the ministries of Electric Power, Railways Transportation, and National Planning and Development, and members of three joint parliamentary committees.
The included the joint parliamentary bill committee, whose secretary, Pyithu Hluttaw MP U Saw Hla Tun (Union Solidarity and Development Party, ChaungOo, Sagaing Region), said the discussion had focused on concern that an increase in electricity fees would raise living costs and be a burden on the people.
“Other issues raised at the meeting were about conserving electricity, taking action against those who use electricity illegally and expanding the national grid,” U Saw Hla Tun said.
Under the increase approved by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, domestic consumers will pay K35 (about US$0.036) for up to 100 kilowatts a month, K40 for 101kW to 200kW a month and K50 for more than 201kW a month. For commercial and industrial use, the monthly rates have been set at K75 for up to 500kW, K100 for 501kW to 10,000kW, K125 for 10,001kW to 50,000kW, K150 for 50,001kW to 200,000kW, K125 for 200,001kW to 300,000kW and K100 for more than 300,001kW.
Under the proposal rejected by parliament last November, the domestic rate was set at K35 for up to 100kW a month and K50 for more than 100kW a month. The rate proposed then for commercial and industrial use was K100 for up to 5,000kW and K150 for more than 5,000kW.
The Minister for Electric Power, U Khing Maung Soe, said the ministry planned to conduct a publicity campaign to explain the reason for the increase.
