Officials appeared to walk back a promise to issue larger-than-average electricity price reductions ahead of July’s elections, instead following a previously announced plan to make small reductions in costs.

Ty Norin, chairman of the Electricity Authority of Cambodia (EAC), released a statement earlier this month announcing a modest cut in electricity prices, dropping prices by up to 20 riel, or less than $0.01, per kilowatt hour (kWh) for some residential users. The cuts are set to take effect in April.

Norin’s announcement comes on the heels of a statement he made last month promising a price cut greater than previous years, after he was urged by Mines and Energy Minister Suy Sem to consider a deeper reduction. Sem suggested a price cut could garner support for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party ahead of July’s national elections.http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/government-sticks-plan-power-price-cuts-ahead-election