Public Works Ministry Sets Water Rates For 2022

Source: Vientiane Times

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport has instructed water supply providers to set the cost of water at 3-5 percent of average family income, in order to keep costs at a reasonable level.

Water suppliers will also set different rates according to the volume used by a household, with different amounts charged for consumption of 0-7 cubic metres, 8-15 cubic metres, and less than 15 cubic metres.

The ministry also instructed water suppliers to improve the quality and reliability of their services so that consumers are satisfied.

The cost of water supply installation should also be reasonable, so that water suppliers do not seek to make a large profit from their customers and should allow low-income households to pay for the cost of installation through monthly payments spread over one year.

A report on the pricing structure was presented last week at a meeting of the ministry’s Water Supply Business Adjustment Committee, chaired by Deputy Minister of Public Works and Transport, Mrs Vilaykham Phosalath.

The meeting accepted a draft agreement on revised water supply prices, draft guidelines on determining the water supply price, draft guidelines on creating water supply business plans, a draft annual report on the achievements of the water supply sector, and an action plan for the Water Supply Business Adjustment Committee for the year 2022.