Utilities in Azerbaijan

Utilities in Azerbaijan cover the topic of public utility services in the territory of Azerbaijani Republic. The utilities of Azerbaijan are provided by the government owned public utilities: “Azersu” for the water supply and waste management, “Azerishiq” and “Azerenerji” for electricity, “Azerigaz” for natural gas, “Azeristiliktechizat” for district heating.

Electricity

Electrical power is the widely utilized energy source in Azerbaijan in terms of domestic and industrial use.[1] Electricity production and its distribution are covered by the state-owned Azerenerji JSC and Azerishig JSC.[2][3][4]

The first electricity production plants in Azerbaijan were established at Bayil avenue ("Bakinski dok") in 1895 and in Bibiheybat-Bayil cape which was put into use in 1901,[5] as well as the Belqorod power station in Beliy Qorod in 1902.[6] Private power companies and stations were nationalized after Azerbaijan was invaded by the 11th Army of Soviet Russia in 1920.

Natural gas

Transmission, distribution and production of natural gas in the territory of the Azerbaijani Republic is regulated by the state-owned company Azerigaz Production Union under SOCAR.[13][14][4]

“The State Program on Socio-economic Development of the Regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2004-2008)" approved by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated February 11, 2004 and The State Program on the Development of the Energy Complex (2005-2015) dated February 14, 2005 accelerated the process of natural gas supply of the economy and population of Azerbaijan and the restructuring of the gas sector.[11]

The Presidential decrees on State Program on Development of Fuel and Energy Complex (2005-2015) of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated 14 February 2005, State Program on Socio-Economic Development of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2009-2013 dated 14 August 2009, “State Program on the socio-economic development of Baku and its settlements" dated 4 May 2011, "State program of economic development of the regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2014-2018" dated 17 January 2014 and "State Program on socio-economic development of Baku and its settlements in 2014-2016" dated 27 February 2014 improved gas supply in the country.

Water supply

Potable water supply and sanitation services in Azerbaijan are centrally managed by Azersu JSC. The company is responsible for taking water from the sources, processing, transporting and distributing of water, and purifying wastewater. Azersu also deal with designing water intake structures, reservoirs, pumping stations, water pipelines, sewage collectors, and their construction, operation and maintenance.[15][16]

Azersu controls 18K kilometers of water transmission lines and 3500 kilometers of sewer and stormwater lines.[15] Water supply Baku city and Absheron peninsula is fulfilled from 5 – 3 underground and 2 surface water sources: 2 underground water sources located in Khachmaz, the underground water source of Oghuz, and Jeyranbatan reservoir, as well as Kura River.[15][11] Drinking water is delivered to Baku through

District heating

Heating supply to subscribers is managed by Azeristiliktechizat JSC established in June 2005. This company deal with the generation of thermal energy, its transmission, distribution and sale, at the same time provides heating supply to residential houses and apartments, educational and healthcare facilities, as well as other social facilities based in Baku and different regions of the country.[17][11][4]

Post and telecommunication

The first post office in the territory of Azerbaijan was opened in Ganja in 1818, and the network extended to Baku, Nakhchivan, Shusha, Shamakhi and Guba until 1830. Postal items were delivered by railway for the first time in 1883 between Baku and Tbilisi. The Ministry of Post and Telegraph was formed on October 6, 1918.[18][19][20]

Azerpost is the only national postal operator providing postal services in Azerbaijan.[18] In addition to Azerpost, there are more than 60 private postal operators providing fast and courier mail services to entities and individuals.[19]

Asan Kommunal

ASAN Kommunal (ASAN Utilities) centers under the State Agency on Public Services and Social Innovations were established according to the Presidential Decree dated 04.05.2016 in order to provide customer services in public utilities sector to legal entities and individuals in a single location based on ASAN service principles.[23] These centers offer more than 40 services of Azerishig, Azersu and Azerigaz related to electricity, water and natural gas provision in addition to banking and insurance services.[24] There are two centers of ASAN Kommunal operating in Baku.[25]

Utility tariff

Utility tariffs in Azerbaijan are assigned by the Tariff (price) Council of the Azerbaijan Republic established in 2005 in order to reinforce anti-inflationary measures in the country. The council is chaired by the Minister of Economy and Industry.[26] Its regulations are applied to processing, transportation, wholesale and retail tariffs of natural gas; general-purpose postal services; electricity; water supply, solid waste collection, transportation and disposal; services rendered by Azeristiliktechizat Open Joint Stock Company; communication services via fixed telephone network; as well as public transport services.[27][4]

See also

• Economy of Azerbaijan
• ASAN Service