The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine initiates the implementation of the Fair Bill program, which envisages the introduction of mechanisms for the formation of fair prices for heating and hot water supplies, and thus will promote the elimination of any tariff calculation schemes and will urge local authorities to invest local budgets responsibly for modernization of housing and utilities. Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman emphasized during the Government sitting.

"I understand that it is difficult for people to pay for such tariffs. We engage in constant activities to ensure gas prices held down. NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine began to lower prices. But there are bills to pay for heating and hot water as well. From my experience, I ask a question - why in some cities the price for heating is UAH 2,000 per GCal, and in the other cities is UAH 1,300. Why is this difference? It is nonobjective and irrelevant!" urged Volodymyr Groysman.

The PM stressed that the Government's calculations prove that the objective price of one GCal of heating should not exceed UAH 1400. "I will force all communal grandees to abide by Government's decisions and give people an honest bill containing an economically reasonable price in it", added Volodymyr Groysman.

Moreover, the Head of Government commissioned to notify each consumer about the decision of the Government and to correct the situation where people overpay for the service.

Background

The Head of Government announced an order to work out mechanisms of a Fair Bill a week ago. Then he remarked that the Government had managed to force NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine to lower the price of gas for the population. Now it is almost equal for all the regions. Instead, the heating tariffs vary. And in certain places, the difference is twice as big or even more - depending on the region and the renovation of the utility networks of the economy.

The situation is complicated by the fact that the district heating providers is an actual monopolist and the consumer has nowhere to complain about unreasonable charges. According to the Prime Minister, now there is every opportunity to ensure fair bills for the people - this is the responsibility of each particular city mayor and district heating provider. Volodymyr Groysman urged, "it’s beyond the pale when someone manage billions of funds and abandon thinking about what kind of service people receive."