The HEC was fined 20 million drams

According to the decision of the RA public services regulatory commission, a fine of 20 million drams was imposed on "Electric Networks of Armenia" CJSC.

The decision to impose a fine on HEC was unanimously adopted at the March 13 session of the commission.

As mentioned in the discussion of the agenda item, the commission carried out an analysis of the process of connection of consumption systems to the distribution network by "Electric Networks of Armenia" during the 1st and 3rd quarters of 2023, as a result of which it was found that in a number of cases, the electricity market was not observed the terms established by the distribution network rules (rules).

Based on the Law "On Fundamentals of Administration and Administrative Proceedings", the commission initiated administrative proceedings against the company in order to investigate the fact of possible violation of the above requirements.

In the framework of the proceedings, the company presented its clarifications, in particular, stating that non-observance of the deadlines established by the rules was due to obstruction of works by residents, consumption systems not being ready to receive electricity, actions of local self-government bodies, etc.

Within the scope of the administrative proceedings, it was documented that in a number of cases the deadlines for connecting the consumption systems to the electric grid were violated, which directly led to the violation of the rights or legal interests of a group of applicants (consumers).

In particular, as a result of the operation of the HEP, 804 consumption systems, 2675 in the 2nd quarter, and 476 in the 3rd quarter were not connected to the distribution network within the time limits provided by the rules, as well as the consumption systems were connected to the electric network in violation of the time limits provided by the rules. 1729 in the first quarter, 3918 in the second, and 2333 in the third.

Karen Harutyunyan, the general director of the National Electric Power Company, who was present at the commission session, explained that the delays in the connections were caused by the unprecedented increase in the number of connections.

"In general, we consider these data presented in the decision acceptable. The main reason for the delays is the unprecedented growth. If in previous years we had connections of 5-6 thousand subscribers on average, now in 2023 we had 14 thousand 500 connections," said Harutyunyan.