Iran to raise water bills slightly

Water bills in Iran will be increased slightly, Iranian deputy energy minister Rahim Meidani said on February 15.

Considering the water consumption pattern, the water bills will be increased just 4870 rials (about $20 cents) in a month, he added.

For instance, those families which consume around 15 cubic meters per month, they will see a slight rise in their water bills, he noted.

Iranian energy minister Hamid Chitchian has said that water and electricity bills will be increased by 10,000-50,000 rials (400 cents to $2), the YJC reported on January 11.

However, the issue should be ratified by the cabinet of ministers as well as the Subsidy Reform Organization, he added.

At present, 50 percent of families across the country pay less than 50,000 rials for their water and electricity bills, he noted.

Previously, Chitchian said that the subsidy reform plan has stipulated raising water and electricity stage by stage, but the law has not been implemented properly. So, we decided to raise water and electricity bills considering that related costs have been increased, he explained.

Iran's electricity consumption peak reached 29,822 megawatt hours on Jan. 10.

The electricity peak on the mentioned day was 800 megawatt hours more than the same day previous year.

The stored electricity of Iran's power plants also hit 9,292 megawatt hours on the mentioned day.

The country's industries consumed some 2,873 megawatt hours of electricity on Jan. 11.

ANN.Az