On October 20, an article by the Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov was published in the “Azerbaijan” newspaper. The article also touched upon the issue related to work undertaken by AERA.
“Among the strategic goals of the reform process is the creation of a regulator that ensures sustainability and efficiency of regulation in the energy sector. In this aspect Azerbaijan Energy Regulatory Agency – the subsidiary public-legal entity of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan – has, within the past three years, developed into an enterprise responsible for managing the balance of interests among government, consumers and regulated entities in the fields of gas supply, electrical and thermal energy while maintaining modern approach in relation to each individual consumer and adhering to principles of objectivity, transparency and accountability.
A number of energy supply processes have been simplified; flexibility has been provided and steps have been taken to make services available to entrepreneurs. Carrying out preparatory work for the autumn-winter season such areas as "Installation of electrical installations", "Technical operation of electrical and thermal installations", "Safety in the operation of electrical and thermal installations", "Electrical and thermal energy, as well as gas supply" "Financing, creation, protection, use, volume and accounting of fuel reserves” were developed and approved by the Cabinet of Ministers. Since August 2020, the Agency has also begun monitoring the process of state inspection of gas meters in the Metrology Department of Azerigaz Production Association, which is important from the point of view of consumer protection. In the context of the process of adaptation of energy regulation to liberal market relations in the future, mechanisms for increasing consumption efficiency, “Tariff Methodology”, were developed. Applying cost-reflective tariffs (without subsidizing electricity prices), optimizing discounts for some industries, differentiating prices by time, determining final consumer prices for low-income consumers, improving the efficiency of reactive energy use, creating a wholesale electricity market, privatizing electricity; studies and proposals have been done to promote new investments in the manufacturing sector through public-private partnership agreements. The Agency also prepares normative documents, such as investment projects in the regulated sphere as well as projects for regular monitoring of the electricity market. One more important document is a project called "Rules for controlling access of independent energy producers to transmission and distribution networks." The adoption of the Energy and Utilities Regulatory Act will enable the Energy Regulatory Agency, as an important player in the electricity market, to fulfil its regulatory functions more effectively and ensure development in accordance with the requirements.
To read more:
https://minenergy.gov.az/az/xeberler-arxivi/isgaldan-azad-olunan-erazilerimizde-tezlikle-isiqli-gunler-baslayacaq
http://www.azerbaijan-news.az/view-201620/isgaldan-azad-olunan-erazilerimizde-tezlikle-isiqli-gunler-baslayacaq
