6 Sep 2006

Fiji Electricity Authority says it informed minister of price rises

9:39 am on 6 September 2006

The state-owned Fiji Electricity Authority has confirmed that it had informed the energy minister, Lekh Ram Vyashnoi, of its plans to raise power prices by 30%.

The FEA's general manager network, Om Datt Sharma, has told Radio Legend's Hindi language sister station that Mr Vyashnoi was consulted on August the 8th along with the minister for public enterprises, Robin Irwin, when they were briefed.

Mr Sharma says all government ministers, chief executive officers and the Commerce Commission held discussions from the 3rd of July to the 8th of August before the final decision was made.

Mr Vyashnoi had earlier claimed that he was not consulted about the power price increase which is in the form of a fuel surcharge.

The claim sparked off complaints by the Labour leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, about lack of consultations.