Uzbekistan plans to introduce a 50% electricity discount for non-gasified households

In a recent interview on the Lolazor podcast, Minister Mirzamakhmudov stated that the discount, which is already in place for apartment buildings without gas, could soon be extended to standalone homes without gas supply as well.

"Previously, we didn't have enough generation capacity, but now we do. A 50% discount on electricity is currently available for non-gasified apartment buildings. We have been instructed to apply the same discount to standalone homes without gas. We are coordinating this with the relevant ministries, and the discount for these households will also be 50%," the minister explained.

Mirzamakhmudov also highlighted ongoing efforts to introduce flexible tariff rates for industrial enterprises, which will vary depending on their electricity consumption levels.

Additionally, the minister discussed plans to regulate the charging of electric vehicles during specific times of the day, which will help balance the country's energy system. "We are commissioning solar and wind power plants, and this year, for the first time, we will launch a battery storage system with a total capacity of 300 megawatts in Andijan and Fergana," he added.

In September, Uzbekistan experienced a rare situation where electricity consumption was lower than production for three consecutive days. To prevent such occurrences in the future, the country is planning to introduce a 4-gigawatt energy storage system. This will allow excess electricity to be stored in batteries and fed back into the grid when needed.

Due to increased energy production and reduced consumption, Uzbekistan purchased 800 million kilowatt-hours less electricity in 2024 compared to the previous year.

Mirzamakhmudov also emphasized that the Ministry of Energy is working with the Ministry of Economy and Finance to introduce differential tariffs for homes without gas supply. "We are aiming to implement this system starting from January 1, considering the interests of all stakeholders," he said.