BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23
Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
Georgian budget spent 87 million lari ($25.2 million) on utility bill subsidy from January through February 2021, Trend reports via the budget performance report 2021.
The utility bill subsidy program was launched in 2020 and the budget spent 328.9 million lari ($95.5 million) last year.
Utility bill subsidy was implemented in two stages - the first of which was carried out last spring (March, April, and May).
The government covered utility fees for households that consume less than 200 kWh of electricity and 200 cubic meters of natural gas per month as well as water and cleaning fees.
According to the report of the Ministry of Finance, the program was funded by the Health Ministry in spring 2020, while the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development allocated funds for subsidizing the winter season in 2020-2021.
Meanwhile, the utility tariff subsidy program is often criticized due to its low efficacy, as it has benefited a wide range of citizens regardless of how the COVID-19 economic crisis has affected them.
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila61979356