Mikayel Melkumyan, Deputy Chair of the Economic Affairs Standing Committee in Armenia’s Parliament, today stated that the public should expect further increases in their energy bills and that the government has an inherent interest in hiking rates.

The committee deputy chair argued that the government is so inclined because millions of AMD would go to closing gaps in the national budget.

The Prosperous Armenia MP, who also serves as the Deputy Chair of the Committee Reviewing the Operations of the Gas Supply System, made his views known during a debate today in the parliament regarding changes to energy rates.

Melkumyan told those MPs present at the debate that he found it unacceptable for energy producing companies to pass their risks and inefficiencies on to the public.

“I am certain that this isn’t the last rate increase,” he concluded.