DUSHANBE, September 19, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Dushanbe municipal authorities discussed preparations for autumn-winter 2008-2009 at a September 19 meeting, presided over by Mayor Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev. 

The meeting participants also included members of the Dushanbe legislature (Majlis), heads of local enterprises and organizations, school principals, heads of health facilities and clerics. 

Speaking at the meeting, Ubaidulloyev said that electricity rationing introduced in the country will not hit Dushanbe.  According to him, such a decision was made by the president at the beginning of this week.  

The mayor noted that the present water levels at the reservoir powering the Norak hydroelectric power station (HPS) are 7.5 meters lower than the maximum level.  “If water levels at the reservoir do not reach the maximum level the country’s power system will receive some 900 kWh of electricity less than its due,” the mayor said.  

The meeting participants decided to apply to the Dushanbe residents with request for econmically using electrical power and oppotunely paying for electricity and natural-gas consumption..

“The mayor’s office offers conclusion of appropriate contracts between residents and the municipal distributors of electricity, natural gas and water,” said the mayor, “If one of the parties defaults in the performance of the contract, the other party may bring an action against it.”

As it had been reported earlier, Tajik power holding Barqi Tojik (Tajik electric systems) announced on September 11 new measures rationing electricity supplies in Tajikistan.  The measures, introduced in all regions of the country except Dushanbe, have resulted in the supply of daily electricity being reduced to nine hours – four and half hours of electricity in the morning (from 3:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.) and four and half hours in the evening (from 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.).

We will recall that this year, Tajikistan introduced electricity rationing on September 1.  The rationing introduced on September 1 resulted in the supply of daily electrical power being reduced to 19 hours – electrical power was supplied from 3:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.   

In the previous years, electricity rationing was introduced in Tajikistan in early October and lasted though April next year.