Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- As is known, the demand for fuel and energy resources is growing in Uzbekistan from year to year. In particular, over the past five years, the volume of electricity supplied to the population has increased from 11 billion kW. h up to 16 billion kW. h (1.5 times), and the volume of natural gas - from 10 billion m3 to 13 billion m3 (1.3 times).

For reference. On 18 May, the Ministries of Finance, Economic Development and Poverty Reduction and Energy jointly published in the media detailed information on the need for ongoing reforms on the issues of reforming the energy sector.

Due to interruptions in energy supply (in 2021, 2-3 billion kWh of electricity were not supplied compared to actual demand), the low quality of services provided, the unstable financial situation of enterprises in the industry, in order to meet the emerging additional demand for energy resources, it is necessary to create new production capacity, a phased reform of the energy market is required to attract private investment.

Proceeding from this, the Ministries of Finance, Economic Development and Poverty Reduction and Energy have developed a draft resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers “On changing prices for fuel and energy resources”.

When developing the draft resolution, the main criterion was taken, first of all, the social protection of the low-income stratum of the population. Based on international experience, in order to increase the effectiveness of social protection in the interests of low-income and low-income segments of the population, the introduction of the “social norm” system is being established throughout the republic.

For reference. In total, there are 7.3 million subscribers in the republic, consuming electricity, of which 80% consume an average of up to 200 kW hours of electricity per month. However, these households account for only 31 percent (5.7 billion kWh) of the total electricity consumed by the population.

There are also 4 million subscribers who consume natural gas. 85% of these households, ie 3.4 million subscribers, consume on average up to 500 m3 of natural gas per month. However, they account for only 35% (4.5 billion m3) of the total consumption of the population. 

Since the above indicators represent the average monthly level of energy consumption during the year, a selective study of subscribers in Tashkent and Namangan regions, as well as the city of Tashkent, was carried out in order to determine the exact size of the average monthly consumption. 

For example, according to the results of the study, in these regions during the non-heating period, 86 percent of subscribers living in old apartment buildings, 65 percent in new apartment buildings and 57 percent in private houses on the ground (yards) consumed an average of up to 250 kW. 

During the heating period, 78 percent of subscribers living in old multi-apartment buildings, 77 percent in new multi-apartment buildings and 44 percent in private houses on the ground (yards) consumed an average of up to 250 kW. hours of electricity per month.

In addition, in the above regions, during the non-heating period, all subscribers living in old multi-apartment buildings, 99 percent in new multi-apartment buildings and 86 percent in private houses on the ground (yards) consumed on average up to 200 m3 of natural gas per month.

During the heating period, all subscribers living in old multi-apartment buildings, 93 percent in new multi-apartment buildings and 64 percent in private houses on the ground (yards) consumed on average up to 700 m3 of natural gas per month. 

Based on this, the size of the social norm for electricity consumption is set at a rate of up to 250 kW. h, as for natural gas, it is set in an amount of up to 200 m3 in the period April-September and up to 700 m3 in the period October-March, depending on the season.

By this draft resolution from 1 July 2022:

For electricity:

a) electricity consumption per 1 kW. h for the population up to 250 kW. h per month - 325 soums, over 250 kW. h per 1 kW. h - 650 sum;

For example, with the proposed differentiated tariffs, an additional fee for subscribers using up to 250 kW. h electricity will be 7.5 thousand soums per month, for subscribers using up to 300 kW. h - 25 thousand soums, and for subscribers using up to 400 kW. h - 61 thousand soums.

b) 1 kW. h of electricity for the Navoi MMC, Almalyk MMC and budget organizations - 800 soums, and for other legal entities - 600 soums.

For natural gas:

a) consumption of natural gas per 1 m3 for the population during the heating period up to 700 m3 per month - 410 soums, over 700 m3 per 1 m3 - 1,200 soums, during the period when heating is not required up to 200 m3 - 410 soums, over 200 m3 – 1,200 soums;

For example, for subscribers consuming up to 700 m3 of natural gas during the heating season, additional costs will amount to 21 thousand soums per month, for subscribers consuming up to 1,000 m3 additional costs will amount to 267 thousand soums per month.

In addition, during the period when heating is not required for subscribers consuming up to 200 m3 of natural gas, additional costs will amount to 6 thousand soums per month, subscribers consuming up to 300 m3 additional costs will amount to 88 thousand soums per month.

b) 1 m3 of natural gas for the Navoi MMC, Almalyk MMC and budgetary organizations will amount to 1,300 soums, automobile gas filling compressor stations - 1,200 soums, thermal power plants - 1,000 soums and other legal entities - 1,150 soums.

And liquefied gas for the population is set at 1,600 soums. At the same time, taking into account the fact that an average of 20 kg of liquefied gas is supplied per subscriber per month, the additional costs of the subscriber will amount to 9.6 thousand soums per month. On the part of the enterprises of Khududgaztaminot JSC, together with the district khokimiyats, measures are being taken to supply liquefied gas to the population in accordance with the approved schedules.

In order to bring enterprises in line with long-term planning, improve operational efficiency and energy savings, as well as indicate a “long-term goal” to reduce costs, along with new prices for the current year, it is also proposed to approve new prices that will come into force from April 1, 2023.

At the same time, from 1 April 2023, the following tariffs will be introduced:

a) For electricity:

Keep the price of 800 soums for the Navoi MMC, Almalyk MMC and budgetary organizations;

for other legal entities - 700 soums.

b) For natural gas:

for thermal power plants - 1,200 soums;

for the Navoi MMC, Almalyk MMC and budgetary organizations - 1,350 soums;

for gas compressor stations - 1,400 soums;

for other legal entities - 1,350 soums.

Prices for fuel and energy resources, set from 1 April 2023, in 2024 and 2025 will be indexed only to the level of inflation, starting from 2026, a transition will be made to the wholesale market for electricity, natural and liquefied gas, and prices will be freely formed.