Yangon residents staged protests against the power bill hike in Pazundaung and Thaketa Townships in Yangon on July 1. 

Daw Oo Oo May Thwin, a protestor said: “I have to pay an extra of Ks 500 in addition to Ks 5,000 when I see a doctor. Due to the power bill increase, the prices of both raw materials and finished goods will increase slightly. It may carry a heavy burden to the low-income families. The country will never see growth if the authorities turn a blind eye to the plight of the grass-roots.”

Ko Soe Min Than, a protest leader said: “The parliaments remain silent on the power bill hike. An increase in electricity bill has a big impact on the people. Doctors and clinics rely on electricity. The usage of electricity is essential to Yangon’s people. The government increased the electricity bill, citing that it would help implement electricity projects in villages with no electricity. Successive governments have been working to implement the power projects in the regions without access to electricity. Major power grids have been installed nationwide. The previous government planned to increase the power bill for the installation of national power grids due to the financial needs. The plan to increase the power bill did not materialize thanks to the discussions by the MPs in the previous parliament. The power bill hike amounts to torturing the public. ”