Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan has recalculated approximately 22 billion soums in unjustified utility debts for nearly 800,000 citizens after a nationwide review found that charges had continued to accrue during temporary absences from their registered addresses, including periods spent abroad. The Competition Committee announced the findings.
The review, conducted across the country in cooperation with relevant organisations, identified discrepancies between subscribers’ actual places of residence and the information recorded in billing systems.
In particular, records concerning citizens temporarily living or working abroad, seeking employment overseas or studying in other countries did not always reflect their actual circumstances. In addition, information about new subscribers was not always entered into the systems in a timely manner.
The review found that citizens had continued to be charged for household waste collection during periods when they were temporarily absent, even though the service had not actually been provided. The issue affected approximately 800,000 people.
The inspection also identified around 100 people who did not live in households without drinking water meters.
Under the applicable rules, when a change in the number of residents is supported by documentary evidence, the recalculation must be made from the date of the change. If supporting documents are unavailable, the adjustment is made for the preceding three months.
The Competition Committee said the measures taken had restored consumers’ rights, with utility providers recalculating debts totalling approximately 22 billion soums.
To prevent similar cases, the committee proposed that relevant organisations integrate their billing systems with migration databases.
The possibility of recalculating charges monthly until the return of subscribers who have been abroad for more than one month, as well as the people living with them, is also being considered.
