Myanmar’s junta says it is doubling electricity bills from September 1.
The Ministry of Electric Power said homes will be charged a minimum of 50 kyats per unit for the first 50 units and 300 kyats above 201 units. The previous maximum charge was 125 kyats.
Most Yangon homes use between 200 to 500 units per month.
In August using 400 units would cost 50,000 kyats, which rise to around 100,000 kyats next month, the ministry said on Friday.
A 43-year-old vegetable vendor in South Okkalapa Township, Yangon, said: “Prices rise every day but our income stays the same. The current electricity rate is already high for us. I don’t know how we will survive.”
Businesses using up to 5,000 units will be charged 250 kyats per unit, up from the current rate of 125 kyats.
Firms using 5,001 to 20,000 units will be charged 400 kyats per unit, up from 150 kyats. Companies using more than 20,001 units will pay 500 kyats, up from 125 kyats.
Traders said the rising prices will lead to higher prices.
The ministry said the rising bills would pay for new power plants and to upgrade existing sites, grids and other infrastructure.
Yangon’s regular blackouts continue. The duration varies by township but some eight-hour long outages have been reported.
Residents in Naypyitaw, Mandalay and rural areas have reported prolonged power cuts.
Article 41 of the Electricity Law says the ministry can increase rates in agreement with the union government.
