Electricite du Cambodge (EDC) will not charge a fee for electricity connection to the houses of people living in the Run Ta Ek and Peak Sneng areas, saving each household between 30,000 riel to three million riel, according to Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The two areas are reserved for people who voluntarily relocate from Angkor Archeological Park and other areas under the control of Apsara National Authority. Thousands of families have so far moved out of the protected areas.

Speaking to people who had already moved to Run Ta Ek area on the morning of October 21, Hun Sen said that the cost for constructing electricity infrastructure to the area is around $6 million, but the company will not charge the government.

He said the government will donate 0.5 ha of land in Run Ta Ek to EDC to build its office in the area in order to ensure electricity operation there.

“To ease the burden for people in Run Ta Ek area and Peak Sneng, EDC has agreed to connect the electricity free of charge for households which use between 5 and 100 amperes (A), saving them between 31,000 and 3,300,000 riel,” he said.