UES not responsible for Georgia's energy problems

Unified Energy Systems' arrival on the Georgian energy market has nothing to do with Georgia's energy problems, according to a statement released by UES.

"Certain oppositionist parties in Georgia are trying to link the country's energy problems to the arrival of Unified Energy Systems on the Georgian market and earn extra points ahead of the parliamentary elections," the statement says.

Oppositionists are also trying to accuse UES of raising electric power tariffs, the document asserts. "Unified Energy Systems had nothing to do with the raising of tariffs for Georgian consumers," it reads.

In early August, UES bought 75% of stocks of the Tbilisi-based power distribution company AES-Telasi, which had previously been owned by the US energy corporation AES, but it does not start managing the company until September 1, 2003.

Almost simultaneously, the Georgian Justice Ministry approved a resolution raising electric power tariffs. This was done by instructions from the IMF and according to the indices supplied by a national Georgian commission that regulates the power industry.

On Monday, an unidentified person fired a series of shots at the isolators on the 69th Imereti electricity support, which connects the Inguri hydroelectric power station to the Zestafoni substation, cutting off power supplies. UES came to the rescue, arranging energy supplies with the help of a spare circuit. In the meantime, the damaged pillar is being repaired by the joint stock company GruzRosenergo, which expects to complete the effort by the end of the day.