BUSINESS | 15:20 / 20.08.2024
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3 min read

Legal entities' electricity and gas consumption limits raised by up to 20% without affecting base tariff

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev highlighted dissatisfaction among industrial enterprises regarding the current practice where payments are twice as high if they exceed the set limits for electricity and gas consumption. As a result, a new regulation has been introduced where if electricity and gas consumption exceeds the limit by up to 20%, the base tariff will remain unchanged. However, if consumption exceeds the limit by more than 20%, the cost of the excess amount will increase by 20%.

Photo: Regional Electric Networks

During an open dialogue with entrepreneurs, President Mirziyoyev addressed concerns that the current system imposes twice the standard charges on legal entities exceeding their electricity and gas limits. He noted that all industrial enterprises are unhappy with this restriction.

The president emphasized that such constraints affecting industrial growth will be reduced. Thus, if consumption exceeds the limit by up to 20%, the base tariff will be preserved. Any consumption beyond this will incur an additional 20% charge on the excess.

Additionally, businesses ranked "high" and "medium" in the entrepreneurial rating will now be allowed to split advance payments for electricity into two monthly installments.

Furthermore, President Mirziyoyev addressed the issue of entrepreneurs with outstanding debts having their bank accounts placed under "incasso," which has prevented them from making payments for electricity, gas, and water. He stressed that despite production being continuous, debt settlements need to be expedited.

"Even with 'incasso' measures, utility payments will not be suspended," the President assured.

It should be noted that the new regulation, effective from May 31 this year, involves charging twice the standard rate of 1,800 UZS per kilowatt-hour for electricity consumed beyond the set limit, which has faced public and entrepreneurial criticism. Economist Behzod Khashimov described this new system as a "penalty for growing enterprises" in an interview with Kun.uz, indicating that such restrictions suggest electricity is not being treated as a market commodity.

The "Regional Electric Networks" JSC explained that this regulation aims to encourage consumers to conserve and use electricity more efficiently.

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