Armenia`s Human Rights Defender demands clarification from Veolia  Djur and Electric Networks of Armenia

ArmInfo.The Human Rights Defender's office regularly receives complaints that Electric Networks of  Armenia and Veolia Djur CJSC do not provide services properly.  Research was conducted on this issue in social networks and the media.

According to the source, citizens mainly raised issues related to the  failure to supply water according to the established schedule,  interruptions in water supply, as well as the lack of proper  notification of water outages, the quality of drinking water,  pressure, etc. Given the scale and persistence of the problem, the  Human Rights Defender considers the current situation to be highly  unacceptable. It is especially alarming when people are deprived of  access to water and sanitation during the summer months.

"Based on the abovementioned, the Human Rights Defender (Defender)  once again emphasizes the need to study the causes of emergency  interruptions and to carry out work to minimize them, more strictly  comply with the rules for the provision of drinking water supply  services, as well as to implement appropriate notifications regarding  interruptions in the water supply",  the statement says.

As for the complaints regarding the activities of the ENA, they  mainly concerned interruptions in the power supply without proper  prior notice and for a long period of time, cases of material damage  as a result, violations of the proper implementation of work  activities, causing harm that led to financial losses. The Defender  emphasizes that in order to resolve the issue of frequent power  outages for consumers, it is necessary to study the causes of  emergency unscheduled outages, carry out work (including ensuring  backup (secondary) power supply) in order to minimize them, and take  measures to improve the energy system in order to increase  reliability and safety indicators.

The Defender sent letters to ENA CJSC and Veolia Djur regarding the  recorded problems. These problems require immediate solutions, and  the Defender will be consistent in solving them.

Electric Networks of Armenia CJSC is engaged in the distribution and  sale of electricity. The company's mission is to promote economic  development by providing reliable, high-quality and affordable  electricity supply. The total length of the company's networks is 36  thousand km and serves over 1 million consumers.

Since January 1, 2017, the new single water operator - the French   "Veolia Djur" (a subsidiary of the French Veolia Enviroment SA), took   over the management of the property of five existing operators for a   period of 15 years: "Yerevan-Jur", "Armvodokanal", "Shirak Vodokanal"   ", "Lori Vodokanal" and "Nor Akunk". According to the data of the  Water Committee of the Republic of Armenia for 2023, payments from  the population for drinking water amounted to about 95% compared to  94.2% in 2022. And according to the report of Veolia Djur CJSC, water  quality compliance with current standards was ensured at the level of  98.6%.