“The start of the heating season always has two components: the technical readiness of objects to connecting to heat carrier. The second one is economic that includes payments by heat providers for natural gas and the conclusion of contracts for the supply of gas to produce thermal energy”, explained Vice Prime Minister/Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities of Ukraine Hennadii Zubko during a conference call dedicated to considering preparation of regions for the heating season.

He noted that the best performance in payments by heat supply companies for consumed in 2017 gas is demonstrated Cherkasy, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Chernivtsi, Odessa, Rivne regions, in which the level of payments ranges from 76 to 92%. A poor performance level is shown by Ternopil (33%), Donetsk (51%), Volyn, Kirovohrad region and the city of Kyiv (59%).

“PJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine must conclude 2,169 contracts for the supply of natural gas with heat supply companies. Out of 1,680 contracts submitted to Naftogaz, as of 27 September 2017, only 827 deals have been signed. This work should speed up, local self-government bodies should participate in this work at the maximum extent possible,” Hennadii Zubko emphasized.

“We must clearly understand that apart from the contract having signed payments have been made and a nomination for gas supplies obtained. 13 regional centers have already been nominated to provide the service”, he said.

The Vice Prime Minister also noted that the adoption of the law “On Commercial Accounting for Thermal Energy and Water Supply” highlights the importance of heat metering. “People have to pay a fair price for the real amount of energy consumed. The average indicator of the installation of heat meters in the country makes up 75.2%. For example, in Kyiv this showing is 93%, the worst performance can be observed in Ternopil region - 14%. Therefore, by the end of the year, we must intesnify the work on installing indoor heat meters, thereby enabling the country to consume energy with smart accounting and managing all the processes,” stressed Hennadii Zubko.