Comments on: Prices for electricity and heating skyrockets in Kyrgyzstan http://www.neweurasia.net/politics-and-society/prices-for-electricity-and-heating-skyrockets-in-kyrgyzstan/ Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:46:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Global Voices Online » Kyrgyzstan: Prices for utilies are skyrocketing http://www.neweurasia.net/politics-and-society/prices-for-electricity-and-heating-skyrockets-in-kyrgyzstan/comment-page-1/#comment-17014 Global Voices Online » Kyrgyzstan: Prices for utilies are skyrocketing Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:51:47 +0000 http://www.neweurasia.net/?p=7120#comment-17014 [...] Aravanski reports that the Kyrgyz government sharply increased the prices for electricity and heating, making those barely affordable by most citizens. Cancel this reply [...] [...] Aravanski reports that the Kyrgyz government sharply increased the prices for electricity and heating, making those barely affordable by most citizens. Cancel this reply [...]

]]> By: Schwartz http://www.neweurasia.net/politics-and-society/prices-for-electricity-and-heating-skyrockets-in-kyrgyzstan/comment-page-1/#comment-16806 Schwartz Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:30:09 +0000 http://www.neweurasia.net/?p=7120#comment-16806 Although it's a bit like comparing apples and oranges, nevertheless, I find a lot of similarity between the behavior of the Kyrgyz government and electrical utilities in the United States like the Pennsylvania Electric Company (PECO). To what extend do you think this could be price-gauging? Although it’s a bit like comparing apples and oranges, nevertheless, I find a lot of similarity between the behavior of the Kyrgyz government and electrical utilities in the United States like the Pennsylvania Electric Company (PECO). To what extend do you think this could be price-gauging?

]]> By: Ekspeditsya http://www.neweurasia.net/politics-and-society/prices-for-electricity-and-heating-skyrockets-in-kyrgyzstan/comment-page-1/#comment-16801 Ekspeditsya Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:01:18 +0000 http://www.neweurasia.net/?p=7120#comment-16801 It is possible that allegations about the World Bank applying pressure behind the scenes may be a government-planted "utka," just to make the authorities appear as though they were reacting to external pressure. See this article (in Russian) about the World Bank denying the allegation: http://www.ca-news.org/news/261191?from=rss Government opponents maintain that the tariff increase has taken place as a stepping stone toward privatising the utilities, which strikes me as a very logical theory. Privatisation would be a difficult and painful process, but in a country as cash-strapped as Kyrgyzstan, it could be immensely useful if done correctly and transparently. But I am doubtful, to put it generously, about the honesty of the Kyrgyz leadership (or Maksim Bakiyev, to be exact), so more bad things may yet be on the horizon. It is possible that allegations about the World Bank applying pressure behind the scenes may be a government-planted “utka,” just to make the authorities appear as though they were reacting to external pressure. See this article (in Russian) about the World Bank denying the allegation:

http://www.ca-news.org/news/261191?from=rss

Government opponents maintain that the tariff increase has taken place as a stepping stone toward privatising the utilities, which strikes me as a very logical theory.
Privatisation would be a difficult and painful process, but in a country as cash-strapped as Kyrgyzstan, it could be immensely useful if done correctly and transparently. But I am doubtful, to put it generously, about the honesty of the Kyrgyz leadership (or Maksim Bakiyev, to be exact), so more bad things may yet be on the horizon.

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