/ world today news/ The Russians are preparing a new time bomb: Russian regions will soon have to independently solve the problems of cross-subsidization of electricity. Economists have already warned that this threatens the average consumer with significant increases in payments. You will have to save hard.
The average consumer is already used to the constant increase in tariffs for housing and utility services. Once a year, the costs of electricity, water, heating and waste removal invariably increase. But now the authorities have prepared a special gift.
You will pay for everything in full
The Federal Antimonopoly Service proposed to introduce differentiated tariffs for electricity in the regions from January 1, 2024.
That is, tie them to consumption volumes. This means that at increased power consumption the board will be higher than at standard power consumption.
Each region will have to decide independently whether to introduce differentiated tariffs. But based on the experience of past years, we will say: such initiatives always hit the pockets of ordinary people.
According to the authorities, the revision of electricity tariffs will help solve the problems of cross-subsidization. Let us recall that this mechanism assumes that the price of electricity for citizens is underestimated at the expense of industry.
The measure came to our time in the 90s of the last century and was intended to help those who could not pay utility bills in full.
During these difficult years, electricity rates for citizens were reduced, while at the same time business charges were increased.
In fact, all these years merchants have been paying for ordinary users, compensating the resource provider for the difference. Then the social burden in the form of covering the difference in tariffs was placed on small and medium-sized businesses, while large ones, on the contrary, received preferences – tariffs for economic giants became minimal.
“The volume of cross-subsidization last year reached 294 billion rubles. This is exactly how much business in Russia pays for electricity instead of the population,” experts said.
“In 2023, payments increased by 18%, that is, they crossed the border of 350 billion rubles. And the problem is only getting worse,” experts say in every possible way.
To keep public tariffs low, more money is needed for cross-subsidisation. But there are not many of them either in the treasury or in the hands of entrepreneurs. In addition, the state budget is in deficit.
What can you do?
That’s right – it’s time to raise the tariffs for the population. This is exactly how today’s effective economic managers solve this problem. Officials sincerely believe that their know-how will reduce the scale of cross-subsidization. They want to make business easier, but someone will have to pay for it…
Those who agree to introduce differentiated payments for electricity will have the right to increase the maximum amount of cross-subsidy. If the regional authorities decide not to touch the tariffs, subsidies will have to be found from the local budget.
Here is an ultimatum to the regions: if you want to do good for the citizens, be good enough to give your money. Experts say:
The final growth of utilities in 2024 will be at least 15%.
State Duma deputy Svetlana Razvorotneva in a conversation with Tsarigrad noted that for many years the price growth in Russia did not exceed 4%.
However, now inflation is quite high, and therefore the government explains the need to increase utility tariffs.
“But an increase of 15% has no explanation. Moreover, I consider this system to be vicious, when tariffs are raised simultaneously for almost everyone throughout the country. This in itself is a trigger for inflation and the circle closes,” says Svetlana Razvorotneva .
The expert emphasized that the funds allocated for the modernization of housing and communal services in Russia are spent inefficiently. That is, this black hole continues to empty citizens’ wallets and business accounts through criminal schemes and cuts.
Standard consumption
The Chairman of the Management Board of the Union of Housing Organizations, a member of the Committee on Housing and Communal Services of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russia, Konstantin Krokhin, is convinced that the only purpose of the innovation is to increase tariffs for the population.
“If tariffs don’t go up, it’s bad for business – there’s nothing to make money from. Our electricity is not bought from abroad, which means we have to focus on the domestic market,” he said.
“And these big monopolists need revenue to increase because of the price,” explained the expert.
He compared the tariff to the practice of introducing rationed consumption introduced several years ago. When citizens received 50 or 100 kilowatts (depending on the region) at a regulated price, and anything higher at a market price.
Let’s count
The average consumption in the apartments is about 300-350 kilowatts per month. Arithmetic is definitely in favor of the resource provider!
“When your consumption is higher than standard, the state no longer guarantees a regulated tariff – and you will pay what the energy monopolists set you,” he said.
“So it all boils down to one thing: Spin it, suck it, but we need to increase the gatherings from the population,” Konstantin Krokhin summarized.
True, the bright minds in the State Duma have already expressed their prediction:
“If tariffs go up, citizens will start saving and consume less electricity, which will lead to a decline in living standards.”
And we will gradually begin to slide into the dark past – and it is not far from reaching the wreckage. We need to increase the amount of support, not decrease it. But there is still no light at the end of the tunnel.
“Do not worry!”
In the end, the average consumer will pay for everything. Meanwhile, the authorities are already trying to calm the worried citizens.
Russia’s Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin said in an interview with TASS that the price change with the introduction of differentiated tariffs will not affect everyone.
According to the official, the difference will be felt only by those who use electricity for commercial purposes and for cryptocurrency mining, that is, they consume significantly more energy than the regional average.
In addition, the deputy minister noted that each region will decide for itself whether or not to introduce differentiated tariffs, having previously assessed the consequences.
And he emphasized that socially significant categories of citizens must be protected: support measures are planned to become more targeted for those in need.
The poorest will continue to receive subsidies to pay for electricity. Therefore, they say, the average consumer has nothing to worry about.
So what?
But what does the above mean translated into understandable language? The fact that the new measure will in any case lead to an increase in citizens’ expenses.
Either they will pay for the love of light directly (if they consume too much), or indirectly – businessmen will simply include their increased costs in the price of goods and services.
So lights in all rooms will soon become a real luxury. Enjoy it while you can.
Translation: SM
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