A local resident of Mong Hsat said Loi Sam Son Company has increased the electricity price from Ks 35 per unit to Ks 85 per unit.

The petition will be submitted to the Shan State Chief Minister, the Shan State Minister of Electricity and Energy, and State Hluttaw MP and Pyithu Hluttaw MP from Mong Hsat Township.

“We can’t pay Ks 85 per unit. We will submit a petition to the Shan State government. Three hundred people will sign the petition,” said Sai Han, a local resident.

Loi Sam Son Company, which has received the contract for power distribution, has met with local residents between 2004 and 2017 to discuss about raising the electricity prices from Ks 35 per unit to Ks 85 per unit to cover the costs for running a generator due to low water supply in the summer, but the local residents did not agree with the plan.

“Some residents paid the electricity bill at the rate of Ks 35 per unit on the 19th this month. The next day, people from the company came to cut the power lines of those that only submitted Ks 35 per unit,” said Sai Han.

Electricity is distributed from the hydropower plant at Mal Pan Creek to Mong Hsat Township and this hydropower plant was jointly built by the government and local residents of Mong Hsat Township.

“The electricity prices started increasing in March this year. At first, they told us that Ks 85 per unit will be collected in the first two months during the trial period. But, they have been collecting Ks 85 per unit up to now,” said another resident of Mong Hsat.

The local residents refused to allow Loi Sam Son Company to collect Ks 85 per unit for two years instead of only two months so they are submitting the letter of objection to the Shan State government, he added.

Mong Hsat residents urge the company to only collect Ks 35 per unit as they will face many difficulties if they have to pay Ks 85 per unit.