PM calls on Energy Minister to submit to Parliament a bill that eliminates monopoly in getting electricity

Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk requires the Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine to urgently agree and submit to the Parliament a draft law, which makes the process of obtaining an electricity connection meet the European standards and demonopolizes this market. The Prime Minister said at a Cabinet’s meeting on Wednesday, 20 May.

The Prime Minister called a monopoly on the energy market in getting electricity "one of the main problems."

He recalled that six months ago he had instructed the Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine together with the National Commission for Energy Regulation and Utilities to resolve this issue.

"For six months, energy companies have again earned a lot of money because they have the monopoly right to getting access to electricity and have monopoly inflated prices. But the issue has not been solved yet. This is unacceptable," he stressed.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk informed that a relevant draft law "appeared this morning, though it should have appeared six months ago": "Moreover, a bill is not approved by anyone."

"I demand from the Minister of Energy to immediately agree and submit to the Parliament a draft law that simplifies and brings the process of getting electricity to the European standards - and de-monopolize this market," the Prime Minister underlined.

He said that this week would present a head of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine: "I think that with a new head of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine we will define the key objectives of demonopolization and deoligarchisation of the country, meanwhile key monopolies are primarily in the energy sector."

Arseniy Yatsenyuk also said that at today's session the Government of Ukraine considers financial plans of two key energy companies - Energoatom and Ukrenergo.

He recalled that four months ago he had instructed the State Financial Inspection, the prosecution bodies and the Security Service of Ukraine to start the investigation into the activity of Energoatom: "I am looking forward to the outcome of financial audit and the results of the investigation concerning the activity of this company."