Utility Help: Government offers subsidy on natural gas bills to poor

The government of Armenia will compensate to Armenia's national gas distribution company, ArmRosGazprom, for the natural gas consumed by socially vulnerable families in the months of September through December, 2011, the state-run news agency, Armenpress, reported.

At the Thursday session of the Cabinet, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan detailed that the debt amounts to nearly 205 million drams (around $527,000).

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan stressed that state assistance will continue to socially vulnerable groups in Armenia, so that they have natural gas supply for lower rates. "The state is assisting socially vulnerable families, enabling them to pay 100 (25 cents) instead of the 132 drams (33 cents) per cubic meter of natural gas for up to 300 cubic meters [of consumed natural]," he said, adding that the agreement will be in effect this year, too.  Read more... (146 words)

Armenian News