Kasyanov Postpones Rise In Tariffs For Railroad Cargo Services

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov ordered the resending of a decision of the Federal Energy Commission that provided for an increase in tariffs for railroad cargo services by 14 per cent starting January 20. Kasyanov commented on his order at a meeting with journalists today and explained that a rise would be postponed until the general strategy of tariff indexing for natural monopolies was approved. He stressed that no rise in tariffs should be expected until the middle of February because the most significant inflation changes are observed in the first month and a half of the year. The Prime Minister reported he discussed tariff plans with Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko and no rise in tariffs of natural monopolies was scheduled for this winter. Therefore, consumers will most likely face no rise in tariffs until the end of March.