In Kazakhstan utility rates will go up from January 1, 2000

/IRBIS, Dec.23, 99/ - REUTERS informs, with the reference to state TV channel Khabar, that in almost all big cities of Kazakhstan utility rates will be raised from the beginning of next year: electricity, heat, and water. In Almaty electricity tariff is expected to jump 14% from January 1, 2000. Heat tariffs is to be raised in Kokshetau, Aktyubinsk, and Taraz. Electricity tariff will also increase in Pavlodar and Kokshetau. Water should get expensive by 3 to 28 percent in Taraz, Kyzyl-Orda, Karagandy, Petropavlovsk, Kokshetau and in some other communities. Decline in consumption, dollar exchange rate growth and increasing fuel prices are the reasons given by Antimonopoly committee. Almost all natural monopolists in Kazakhstan are foreign companies. They have bought city heat, power plants and respective distribution networks. For instance, major supplier of electricity and heat in Almaty is Belgian company Almaty Power Consolidated (APC). APC has been persisting in increasing the tariffs, while antimonopoly committee was against it. The latter had to go for a compromise after the former threatened to take the matter to the court if antimonopoly bodies do not agree to increase the tariffs.