Vientiane Water Reduces Household Tariffs By 5 Percent

Source: Vientiane Times

Vientiane Water Supply Enterprise will reduce its rates from May to July for household customers by five percent with the change coming into effect next month.

The price reduction, applying to householders only, aims to lessen the financial impact of COVID-19. Water rates for government offices, factories and other businesses will remain unchanged, according to the Laophattana newspaper website.

The move follows various ministries seeking policies to help residents reduce their cost of living as well as ease the strain on businesses struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.

Water supply state enterprise officials recommended the five percent reduction in tariffs to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport for their consideration while also suggesting the Ministry of Finance examine not charging the 10 percent value added tax for three months (May, June, July).

The proposed actions were presented during a recent taskforce committee meeting in Vientiane on policies and measures to reduce the economic impact of COVID-19. Similar assistance measures announced during the current outbreak include the Ministry of Energy and Mines revealing last month that Électricité du Laos (EDL) would discount electricity tariffs from this month onwards with payment terms extended up to 45 days.

Currently, Laos still has five Covid-19 patients being treated in Mittaphab Hospital, and they were set to be tested for a second time on May 21. They will be allowed to return home if the results of the tests are negative. All of them have only mild symptoms, health authorities reported on May 20.