Ukraine is plunging into a collapse of utility non-payments
NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine again intends to increase gas prices for heating and utilities enterprises, which will be forced to raise tariffs by another 30-60%, which will lead to massive non-payments and collapse in the industry.
Oleg Popenko, head of the Union of Consumers of Public Utilities, announced this at a press conference in Kyiv, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
“If in the summer the PSO [special obligations regime] is canceled and no mechanism for cooperation between Naftogaz of Ukraine and Teplokommunenergo is developed, then this will all lead to collapse. And to an increase in heat tariffs on average from 30 to 60%. Naftogaz has so far offered a price of 9200 hryvnia per 1000 cubic meters of gas, and most heating and power utilities have approved their tariffs with the regulator at a gas price of 7000 - 7500. They are already unprofitable today. If the price is 9-10 thousand hryvnia, and it could be more, then small heating and power utilities will close down altogether.
Already, the increase in tariffs for heat and hot water from January 1, 2021 has led to the fact that the level of non-payments has increased from 12-15% to 47%. In the Kherson region, 47% did not pay, in Kyiv the number of non-payments is 30%, although previously 10% consistently did not pay. The total amount of debts increased from October 1, 2020 to February 1, 2021 by 26,6 billion hryvnia, and this was in 4 months. Let's now compare the growth from October 1, 2019 to October 1, 2020 - then over the whole year, including the heating season, the debt increased by only 5 billion hryvnia. It is clearly visible here that if heat tariffs are allowed to continue to rise, then everything will stop,” the expert said.
Ukraine plunges into utility bill arrears