Ukrainians may be canceled the fee for gas delivery
19 March 15:43
ANALYSIS FROM 
Unexpectedly, MPs decided to think about the people and submitted a bill to the Verkhovna Rada that proposes to abolish fees for natural gas transportation at least for the duration of martial law in Ukraine. The idea was to make life easier for Ukrainians amid rising prices for goods and services and declining incomes. Citizens wholeheartedly support this idea, but whether they will be able to vote for this bill, found out
A little-known MP , Maksym Zaremsky, has submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a bill to amend Section VII “Final and Transitional Provisions” of the Law of Ukraine “On the Natural Gas Market” to abolish fees for transportation and distribution of natural gas to the population. But not for life, but temporarily, only for the duration of martial law, which, by the way, has been in effect for more than three years.
In his explanatory note, the deputy noted that, first, this issue is more relevant today than ever. Secondly, during martial law in Ukraine, most people survive on minimum wages and even lower pensions or other social benefits. Thirdly, in 2025, the tax burden has increased, food and medicine prices continue to rise, and personal income remains unchanged. This means that people are saving money, their well-being is weakening, and this increases social tension.
According to Zaremsky, his constituents are outraged that gas pipes were laid at their own expense and now they have to pay for them, and even the absence of consumers and not using gas does not exempt them from paying for the “pipe”.
“The war falls largely on the shoulders of ordinary people who fill the state treasury with taxes and take up arms to defend their families and Ukraine. In this difficult time, the government must take care of Ukrainian families, ensuring warmth and prosperity in every home. Therefore, the decision to cancel the fee for natural gas transportation for the population is objective, at least for the duration of the legal regime of martial law,” the MP summarized.
Gas companies will not receive billions
According to the MP’s estimates, given the consumption of about 8 billion cubic meters of natural gas by household consumers during the year and the cost of natural gas distribution at about UAH 1.68 per cubic meter, the implementation of this draft law will result in a possible shortfall of UAH 13.8 billion per year for the natural gas market participants at the first stage, and therefore hypothetical losses (shortfall) of the state budget of Ukraine from the total amount of funds received by the natural gas market participants for the transportation and distribution of natural gas
It is assumed that the decrease in state budget revenues as a result of a decrease in the income of natural gas market participants after the abolition of fees for the transportation and distribution of natural gas to households during the martial law regime will be fully offset by budget revenues from taxation of business entities, as citizens will be able to purchase more goods and services as part of their livelihoods. In other words, the money saved on gas supplies will still go back to the budget. And no one will lose anything.
Like it or not, you will have to pay
However, it is too early for Ukrainians to rejoice. According to Oleg Popenko, head of the Union of Consumers of Public Utilities, it would be great, but it will never happen.
“I am 100% sure that no one will pass this bill. After all, this is the main income of regional gas companies. This is their fodder base, so no one will cancel the fee for gas transportation through pipes. They will not even refuse to bill those who do not live in homes with gas supply. Everyone will continue to pay as they have been paying. If they wanted to, they could have made such a gift to Ukrainians in 2022, but they didn’t,” said
[Kommersant] Oleg Popenko said in a commentary to "Komersant Ukrainian".
Moreover, there are already many examples when payments for gas transportation were received by IDPs from towns and villages where there were hostilities. Subscription fees were charged to residents of houses being restored after the fighting in Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kyiv regions, even when no one lived there and did not use gas.
It is worth recalling that gas transportation has always been paid for, but until January 2020, this amount was included in the cost of one cubic meter of gas and was much lower. It turned out that when a consumer used gas, turned on a stove, column or boiler and used up cubic meters, they paid for gas and its delivery in one payment. If they did not use it, they paid nothing.
But the gas company found smart people who calculated that they were losing millions, because if the valve is closed, no money is credited to the account. That’s why they came up with a scheme that obliged all consumers to pay, regardless of whether they use gas or not. And they presented it in a beautiful wrapper, saying that it is payment for the maintenance of the gas infrastructure that is connected to the household. Therefore, consumers often face the fact that gas delivery is charged even to those who do not physically receive gas.
An interesting proposal has emerged: if you don’t want to pay for transportation, write an application to the regional gas company, and you will be disconnected from gas, but if you want to use it again, you will have to pay for the connection, which is a huge amount. And few people refuse, while tens of millions pay.
And what is most unfortunate is that the subscription fee is constantly growing, even if the price of gas does not change. Consumption is simply overestimated and, accordingly, the cost of delivery, which is tied to the cubic meter, is increasing. And there is no one to complain about it. According to Oleh Popenko, this should be handled by the State Consumer Service or the State Energy Supervision Service, but they do not solve these issues. And consumers are being ripped off to the bone.
Author – Alla Dunina
