Power Tariffs Jump 4 Times for Industries

The Majlis passed a bill last week based on which electricity tariffs for energy-intensive industries, namely cement factories, refineries and petrochemical and steel companies will increase fourfold to 1.6 cents per kilowatt hour.
Beginning from the next fiscal year (March 21), all industrial units that use more than 2 megawatts of electricity a day will be charged 1.6 cents per kWh, up 275% compared to the outgoing year (0.4 cent per kWh), ISNA reported.
The move has stirred controversy among economic and energy experts. The legislators argue that big industries export in huge volumes and as such higher tariffs will not affect inflation.
The cash-strapped Energy Ministry has been obliged to use its revenue not only to settle a part of its massive debt ($2 billion) to private companies but also rehabilitate ageing infrastructure and expand water supply to rural areas.