PM: Ukrainians not be fined for untimely payment of Jan gas, heating bills

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has assured Ukrainian citizens that they will not pay fines or penalties if they fail to pay in time for gas and heat supplied in January 2021.

He made the comment during a Svoboda Slova (Freedom of Speech) panel show on Ukraine's ICTV channel on January 25.

"Fines or penalties won't be applied to untimely payment of gas and heating bills received in January. This is also an important message for people, so that they don't worry if their utility bills are too high or certain advance payments are included in those bills," he said.

Background

Heating and electricity tariffs increased in Ukraine on January 1, 2021. Also, the price of gas as a commodity reached almost UAH 11 (US$0.39) per cubic meter in the first months of 2021. In addition, tariffs for natural gas transportation to households' homes increased by 1.6 times.

Read alsoGovernment slashes prices of natural gas for households in UkraineSince the beginning of January 2021, rallies in protest against the increase in utility rates have taken place in a number of regions across the country.

Responding to the mass protests, President Volodymyr Zelensky instructed the government to audit gas and heating tariffs nationwide and get clarifications on the grounds for their escalation.