Yesterday’s meeting was attended by the chief minister and members of his government, the speaker of the Mon State parliament (Hluttaw) Daw Tin Ei, Ye Township representatives, staff from local departments and Ye Township residents.

“Today is the 12th of May 2017, and by the 12th of May 2018, about 15 villages in northern Ye Township will have electricity. Within 18 months every town and village in the township will have electricity,” the chief minister said.

One Ye city resident, U Than Soe, thought the electricity could make life safer and easier.

“I have nothing more to say about electricity because the minister has already said that we will be getting it soon. Once we have electricity, though, I’d like for them to install lamps on the electrical poles near highways,” he said.

He added that there are often accidents on the highway, because there are no streetlights to illuminate the road.

While residents welcomed the news that they would soon have access to electricity, some chafed at the high price tag. Because the power is being offered by a private company, rates will be 210 or 220 kyats per unit of electricity, more than six times as high that offered by the government elsewhere in the state.

“We would rather be getting electricity from the government, and get the same rate that other townships get. They get electricity at 35 kyats per unit and we would like to have the same,” said Daw Sa Kyi, a Ye city resident.

Residents in Ye city, and Abaw, Duyar, Zee Phyu Taung and Asin villages currently receive electricity from a company called Myat Thura Htun, which charges 400 kyats per unit. The Mon State parliament will allow two additional companies, Bedok Construction & Engineering Co. Ltd and The Southeast General Energy and Power Co. Ltd (SEGEP), to distribute electricity in the Township.

When asked when the government might offer public electrical service at the lower rate enjoyed in other townships, the chief minister said he could not guess.