Private electricity providers in Ye Township, Mon State, said that they will increase the electricity rate to 2,000 kyats per unit starting this month.

As fuel shortages and rising fuel prices, Southern Myanmar Development (SMD) Company operating in the electricity distribution in the northern part of Ye Township, released a statement saying that the electricity bill will be changed to 2,000 kyats per unit starting this month from the previous 1,750 kyats per unit. 

Similarly, Myat Thura Tun company which operates in the electricity distribution business in Ye town and nearby villages, will charge 2,000 kyats per unit of electricity starting this December.

“We have negotiated with the officials from the relevant departments to change the electricity charges to 2,000 Ks per unit. The main reason is that the current fuel prices are increased”, said an official from Myat Thura Tun Company.

He also said that they had to increase the electricity charges as the price of 220 liters of one diesel container was around 600,000 kyats previously in Ye Township, which has increased to over 800,000 kyats in December.

It is reported that businesses and locals who work with electricity are facing difficulties due to the increase in electricity bills in Ye Township.

“Current economic conditions are not very convenient. In the past, the electric bill was around 100,000 kyat per month. Now, the bill has over 100,000 Ks. So, we have to reduce the use of electricity," said a local from Ye Township.

Among ten townships in Mon State, only Ye Township has yet to receive the power grid, so private power companies are distributing electricity with large generators. Myat Thura Tun Company is distributing electricity to Ye town and villages such as Chaung Taung, Dhamin Seik, Abaw, Ziphyu Thaung, Duya and Shwe Pyitha, and the Southern Myanmar Development (SMD) Company is providing electricity to Lamai town in the north of Ye township, and villages such as Mawt Kanin, Kawt Dok, Thaung Pyin, Ahnin and Hnin Kayin.