Shmyhal to consider petition to ban increase in electricity tariffs
25 July 2024 14:41
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has instructed Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal to consider a petition calling on the Ukrainian authorities to freeze electricity prices for households until the end of the war. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian"
Thepetition was registered on the president’s website on 3 June, and a response appeared on 24 July.
“The level of salaries in Ukraine, especially in regional centres, no longer corresponds to the cost of electricity. The government and you personally promised to introduce a moratorium on tariff increases until the end of the war, but unfortunately, these promises have not been fulfilled. The people of Ukraine are facing enormous financial difficulties, and it is especially hard for people of retirement age. In such circumstances, the increase in electricity tariffs becomes an unbearable burden for most citizens,”
– the petition says.
The President’s office responded that in the current circumstances, it is imperative to find a balance between the strategic energy interests of the state and society and social protection of the population. In particular, the Pension Fund automatically recalculated the amount of subsidies after the last electricity price increase.
“In addition, I proposed to accelerate the implementation of measures to create a new decentralised electricity generation system, to establish regular informing of the population about the state of affairs in the fuel and energy complex of Ukraine, the use of funds for its restoration, including through international assistance, and to take all possible measures aimed at saving energy resources by consumers, including the population, business, budgetary institutions, housing and communal enterprises, etc.”
– the President wrote.
However, he still sent the petition to the Prime Minister for consideration.
The situation in the Ukrainian energy sector
on 29 March 2024, Russia resumed its attacks on the Ukrainian energy sector, carrying out the most massive shelling in the entire period of the full-scale war. In particular, DniproHES and other Ukrainian energy facilities were hit. Since then, Russia has been regularly shelling Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
For example, the Russians destroyed the Trypillia and Zmiiv thermal power plants, causing Centrenergo to lose 100% of its generation. Also, 5 of DTEK’s 6 thermal power plants were severely damaged.
After that, power outages began again in Ukraine, Ukrenergo introduced blackout schedules and the government raised electricity tariffs by 60% at once.
At the same time, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to build two new units at the Khmelnytsky N PP and has already received the approval of the relevant parliamentary committee. The Razumkov Centre has criticised these plans, but some experts believe that only traitors or scoundrels are against the construction of nuclear power plants today.
