Azersu OJSC has commented on increase of water supply and sewerage tariffs.

Head of Azersu’s press service Anar Jabrayilli told, the OJSC carried out a lot of works recent times and these works increase the expenditures: “Under the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, storehouses, pumping stations and sewer lines of SOCAR, Baku City Executive Power, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Defence Industry, the State Committee for Work with Refugees and IDPs, Caspian Sea Shipping CJSC and other state bodies have been transferred to Azersu. Total length of water and sewer lines of these bodies is over 4,500 km. At the same time, under the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated to 2013, the water and sewer lines of apartment buildings have also been transferred to Azersu. Moreover, Azersu constructed 505,120 km water line, 2,120 km sewer line, 4 modern water treatment plants, 54 water and sewer pumping stations during past 5 years. Number of those who are intermittently supplied with water doubled to 65% across the country, including 76% in Absheron, 79% in Baku. Number of subscribers increased over 350,000 to 1,390,000. Generally, the works carried out have increased the expenditures. At the same time, intermittently supplying population with water for 24 hours caused increase of energy consumption, wages of employees. All of these caused the tariffs to be raised”.

He also noted that after tariff changes in February 2011 the average monthly salary increased from AZN 290 to AZN 435: “At the same time, number of employees exceeded 3,000, which doubled wages fund, including increased liabilities for budget 19 times, for the State Social Protection Fund 2.6 times”. Moreover, energy expenditures tripled. Therefore, Azersu raised the question before the government of reviewing of the water and sewerage tariffs”.

Jabrayilli also stressed that Azerbaijan is ahead of only 24 of 180 countries for expenditures of water and sewerage services: “Along with this, the initial cost of water in some of these countries is low. However, in Azerbaijan, the water is brought to Baku from Oguz and Gabala (264 km) and Kur River (180 km)”.

/apa/

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