Utility price cut sought pre-vote
THE Electricity Authority of Cambodia (EAC) is preparing a proposal to further subsidise electricity prices ahead of July’s national elections, according to two senior energy officials – a move that, if approved, would be in line with numerous populist promises made by ruling party officials in recent months.
The remarks came from EAC President Ty Norin during the regulatory authority’s annual meeting yesterday in Phnom Penh, which was also attended by Mines and Energy Minister Suy Sem. The government has undertaken an annual evaluation and reduction of electricity prices at the end of March for the past two years, but this year’s cut would likely be larger than previous ones, according to Norin.
“We will see the change [in electricity price] before the national election, as we are studying the fruitful result that we may gain from the price reduction,” Norin said yesterday, without specifying what that “fruitful result” might be.
The minister, too, encouraged a reduction in energy prices and urged officials to create a proposal he could then pass to Prime Minister Hun Sen for approval, also pointedly noting the step be taken ahead of the vote.
“I want the authority and EDC to do an internal study, or consider if the electricity price for factories and enterprises can be lowered a little bit more before this upcoming election,” Sem said.
In addition to lowering prices, Sem encouraged