All our sources report that the next plan to increase tariffs is in the Cabinet of Ministers. It is being developed, and then it must be approved behind the scenes with the Office of the President. Gas, heating, water supply - will increase in price this year. The question remains to what extent.
According to our data, at least by 50%, and on average by 80-150%, and the maximum will be raised to market rates - this is an increase of somewhere around 300-350% by the end of the year.
Despite the current moratorium on increasing tariffs for heat, hot water, and gas distribution until April 1, 2024, the Ukrainian government and Naftogaz are allegedly considering raising prices.
This was reported by housing and utilities expert Oleg Popenko on Yuriy Romanenko's show. "Literally an hour or two ago I was informed that the Cabinet of Ministers and Naftogaz plan to raise the cost of gas and heat. This is absolute news for me personally," Popenko said. According to him, an increase in the cost of heat and hot water by an average of 20% is being discussed, and gas prices may increase by 20-25%. If consumers are currently paying about 7.96 hryvnias per cubic meter of gas, then after the increase the price will be about 9.5 hryvnias.
Popenko noted that it is not yet clear whether the tariff increase will affect only legal entities, such as water utilities and heating and power utilities, or whether it will also affect the population. Various options are being considered, including approving new tariffs for heating and power utilities or increasing the cost of gas for them with permission for local authorities to raise tariffs.
The expert emphasized that the increase in tariffs has long been discussed by the World Bank and other organizations in order to cover expenses and increase budget revenues. Popenko expressed concerns that the increase in prices will lead to an increase in the population's debt for utility services and may jeopardize the right to housing ownership in accordance with the "Tretyakova law" for households.
