A political process, not an ultimatum from creditors: what is happening with electricity tariffs
5 February 15:41
The media has reported on a possible increase in electricity tariffs for the population to 8.5 UAH per kWh, but parliament emphasizes that there are currently no confirmed calculations or draft decisions, and the issue of tariffs remains the sole political responsibility of the Cabinet of Ministers.
Statement on “creditors’ demands”
Stanislav Ignatiev, an energy expert at the Ukrainian Institute for the Future, said that the tariff could rise to 8.5 UAH/kWh allegedly due to the demand of international creditors to repay the energy market’s debts. According to him, this is a condition for further support of the industry.
However, no decisions by the Cabinet of Ministers, the Ministry of Energy, or the NEURC confirming such intentions have been publicly announced.
Who decides on the tariff
People’s Deputy Oleksiy Kucherenko commented
“Look, I have absolutely no idea why this guy, Mr. Ignatiev, suddenly said this. I don’t know if he has any calculations or if he has seen a draft decision somewhere. You’ll have to ask him where he got this news.
The only thing I can tell you is that I have long warned that closer to spring, around May, experts, bloggers, politicians, and other specialists will appear in Ukraine who will push the issue of raising electricity and gas prices for the population. They will definitely appear.
The decision is made by the government; the government sets the price of electricity. Therefore, it will be a political process, not a simple one.
I consider our political force to be among those who will definitely oppose this. At the very least, I will demand justification, that they show their reasoning and calculations. No one knows how life will unfold.
Ukrainians have elected their government, and it has formed a cabinet. The government will make certain decisions. There are many problems.
Are tariffs linked to energy market debts?
Commenting on the creditors’ claims, Kucherenko said that an audit of the debts must be conducted before any decisions are made.
“The energy market’s debts, first of all, probably need to be audited to see how they arose.”
At the same time, he agreed with one of Ignatiev’s arguments—regarding the role of the “green tariff.”
“The only thing he writes there that I would like to draw the attention of all readers to is that he is indeed one of the first to tell the truth that this demand and these debts are related to the senseless tariff setting for green investors. Here I agree with him completely that the government’s senseless policy on green tariff pricing has led to a crazy increase in these debts and a burden on Ukraine’s state campaign in the energy market.”
Conflict of interest
At the same time, the deputy stressed that Ignatiev is an interested party, not a neutral expert.
“But he is mistaking his desires for reality, because he has business interests there, including in the establishment of green stations.
Therefore, he is not an expert, he is an interested party who wants the energy market to pay for his green projects that he implemented there. Therefore, he is an interested party.”
We would like to remind you that earlier, the National Commission for State Regulation in Energy and Utilities (NKREKP) responded to a request
