Businesses to make 100% prepayment for electricity and gas starting July 1

As it was previously reported, from May 1, tariffs for electricity and gas for the population will increase, and social norms of energy consumption will be established.

However, prices for businesses are not being raised yet. Nevertheless, the Government's resolution specifies that from July 1, businesses will be obliged to make a 100% prepayment for electricity and natural gas.

Uzenergoinpection, National Electric Grids, and Khududgazta'minot are instructed to intensify measures to detect cases of illegal use of natural gas and electricity.

The Ministry of Energy, Prosecutor General’s Office, and Ministry of Economy and Finance are tasked to present proposals within two months for imposing fines on legal entities for irrational (illegal) use of energy resources, as well as an increasing coefficient applied to established tariffs for illegal use or theft of energy resources.

Within two months, the Ministry of Energy, in coordination with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the National Agency for Social Protection, is instructed to develop and submit a program to the Government in support of energy conservation by the population.

Additionally, the Ministry of Energy, together with the Ministry of Geology, Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the Committee on Competition, is expected to present proposals within one month on forming wholesale and retail coal prices based on market principles.

Since July 2017, a 100% prepayment system for electricity and gas for legal entities had been in place. In February 2019, the advance payment amount for business energy consumption was reduced to 50%.

In October of the same year, tariffs on electricity and natural gas significantly increased. At that time, they only affected businesses, while tariffs for the population remained unchanged until 2024.

At the end of December 2023, the Ministry of Energy published a draft resolution of the Government, which proposed to reinstate the 100% prepayment for natural gas and electricity for businesses from January of the following year. A higher coefficient was proposed for legal entities failing to make an advance payment for gas.