Demonstrators Take On Local Power Suppliers

Hundreds of Kompong Cham villagers protested yesterday and Sunday against high electricity prices in another example of energy-price demonstrations that are becoming increasingly frequent across the country. In Kompong Cham province’s Batheay district, more than 500 villagers yesterday continued a protest over electricity prices that began with the blocking of a road on Sunday, deputy district police chief Sok Sol said. … District Governor Lor Chanly said that the price of electricity had reached 3,100 riel, or about $0.77, per kilowatt-hour. Villagers wanted it reduced to 1,800 riel, or about $0.45, he said.  Power in the protesters’ villages in Batheay commune is supplied  by Batheay Electricity Company – a firm run by local businessman Khoun Sophal – which owns a nearby diesel generator. ‘They have a good reason to demand that the company reduce the price,” Mr. Chan1y said.  He said that the 110,000 residents of Batheay district were dependent on five private power companies to provide power because the national grid, operated by national power company Electricite du Cambodge, does not connnect with the area.