Satkaliyev: Energy Consumption Increase Due to Time Change Is a Statistical Error

Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev stated on the sidelines of the Majilis that the transition to a single time zone had only a minor impact on electricity consumption in Kazakhstan, Orda.kz reports.

According to KEGOC, electricity consumption has increased in the country. However, the Minister does not link this to the change in time.

The system operator records an increase in consumption volumes in the Republic of Kazakhstan due to an improvement in the level of well-being - the purchase of additional electrical appliances, an increase in the population. There are factors associated with the introduction of new industries, which are also energy-intensive. According to our information, the factor associated with the change in time is insignificant, within the limits of statistical error,said Almasadam Satkaliyev.

The Minister could not estimate precisely how much more the average family in Kazakhstan began to pay for electricity.

Satkaliyev attributes the main reason to Kazakhstan beginning to purchase more electricity for large-scale repairs at crucial thermal power plants.

We started buying more electricity, this is due to the repair campaign. For the first time in the long history of the Republic of Kazakhstan, unprecedented measures were taken to support energy sources. Large amounts of money were allocated by the owners, quite a lot of money from the republican and local budgets. The salaries of the staff were raised. During the repair period, we assumed the decommissioning of these stations, that is, during this period we purchased electricity from abroad, added Satkaliyev.

This is not the first time that the Ministry of Energy has stated that time change has not caused any issues. 

Electricity consumption in the evenings has indeed increased in the country, but this has allegedly compensated for the decrease in morning consumption. 

At the same time, with the onset of autumn, many Kazakhstanis have begun to speak out en masse about a sharp increase in their electricity bills.

Original Author: Zhadra Zhulmukhametova