TBILISI, October 27 – Georgian households could soon pay different rates for gas and water depending on how much they use, under a bill passed by parliament in its first reading Tuesday.
The proposal would give Georgia’s energy and water regulator, GNERC, the power to set different household tariffs based on consumption. Parliament is considering the bill under an accelerated procedure.
The system would remain in place until January 1, 2036 for water and until January 1, 2038 for natural gas.
At present, household gas prices are set according to the area served by each distribution company, and the price per cubic meter does not change depending on how much gas a household consumes.
The bill does not itself set new prices. It gives GNERC the power to decide how tariffs should vary between households using different amounts.
Shota Berekashvili, chairman of parliament’s Economic Policy Committee and one of the bill’s sponsors, said the aim was partly to encourage people to save energy while keeping a strong social component in the tariff system.
He said the final rates would be decided by GNERC. Berekashvili also said household gas currently costs around 55-56 tetri per cubic meter on average in Georgia.
GNERC said the proposal is intended to strengthen social protections while encouraging more efficient use of energy. The regulator said the change should also help keep basic utility services affordable, including for vulnerable households.
The move comes as GNERC prepares to review gas and water tariffs at the end of this year. Regulator chairman Davit Narmania said on October 21 that the current tariff periods expire at the end of December.
Electricity prices will not be reviewed at the same time because new electricity tariffs were set earlier this year.
In Tbilisi, the current household gas tariff is 53.971 tetri per cubic meter. Metered water customers pay 0.50 lari per cubic meter, according to the regulator.
