The Minister of Energy, Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, recently addressed the expected hike in electricity and gas tariffs. He clarified that the Uzbekistan government plans only to raise rates for commercial enterprises, not residential customers. Additionally, he emphasized the significance of maintaining a steady and reliable electricity supply for the general public.
The Ministry of Energy stressed that rising tariffs and ongoing power outages will lead to public dissatisfaction. The agency is working on improving power generation and upgrading networks.
Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov also stated that if a stable electricity supply is achieved, the Ministry of Energy will propose a project for different electricity tariffs to the government starting May 1, 2024. However, this does not imply that prices will rise on the same day.
Households with high energy usage, such as saunas, swimming pools, and many appliances, will be charged more with differentiated tariffs that introduce a social consumption rate.
Currently, only 15% of the population uses more than 300 kW*h of electricity per month, while three-quarters of households consume less than 200 kWh per month, according to the Ministry.
In May 2022, a proposal was put forth to increase tariffs on electricity, natural gas, and liquefied gas. The proposed decree included social norms that applied to domestic consumers, with fees that would be raised if these norms were exceeded. However, many negative comments were received, prompting the draft to be sent for further study. As a result of this study, the resolution excluded any increase in tariffs for citizens, and the Cabinet has ordered a temporary postponement of the rate increase for legal entities.
During a speech to the Oliy Majlis in December, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of liberalizing the energy sector while also providing assistance to those in need and implementing a payment system based on consumption volume.
In March, Dishod Sultanov, the Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs, announced that electricity tariffs for citizens would not increase in 2023.
The government is currently exploring the possibility of implementing social consumption standards.
Previously, Daryo reported that the president instructed the Ministry of Energy to give enterprises advance notice before shutting off their electricity.
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