Russia To Raise Domestic Gas, Electricity And Railroad Tariffs Within 2002

The 2002 tariff plan for the natural monopolies' services will be signed on Tuesday or Wednesday, Georgy Kutovsky, in charge of the federal energy commission, told reporters following a conference with Vice-Premier Viktor Khristenko. The conferees completed the plan to raise the tariffs. The tariffs are going to be brought up in two stages - in the first quarter, most likely in February, and then in July. The gas and electricity tariffs will be raised simultaneously. Gas prices will go up by 25 percent in February, and by another 20 percent in July. The annual rise in the gas tariffs will make 35 percent. The rise in electricity prices in February will make up 20 percent, in July - 10 percent, with the annual rise to amount to 32 percent. March will see another stage of unification of foreign and domestic railroad operations tariffs, which will go up 11 percent. In July, the railroad tariffs may be brought up by another 3 to 4 percent. Within the year, the tariffs will be raised by a total of 26 percent, and by 44 percent with regard to the unification.