Uzbekistan Competition Committee Orders 2.2 Billion Soum Refund Over Illegal Water Charges in Tashkent Region

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Competition Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan has uncovered more than 2.2 billion soums in unjustified water utility charges in the Tashkent region, ordering the immediate return of these funds to consumers.

According to the Competition Committee, the regional department for the Tashkent province conducted an extensive audit into the application of tariffs for drinking water supply and sanitation services. The investigation revealed that the joint-stock company MUSAFFO OBI HAYOT MAGISTRAL SUV TA’MINOTI overcharged residents following a recent hike in service rates.

The committee specified that the irregularities affected a significant number of subscribers, triggering formal anti-monopoly intervention. Based on the findings, a special commission initiated a case against the utility provider for suspected violations of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Competition." Following a review of the proceedings, the authorities imposed a financial penalty on the company.

In addition to the fine, a mandatory injunction was issued requiring the firm to rectify all identified violations and implement measures to prevent future occurrences. Most critically, the company is required to perform a full recalculation of accounts and refund the erroneously collected funds to the end users. The Competition Committee emphasized that the execution of this directive remains under its strict supervision to ensure all affected households are made whole.