The process of raising tariffs by state monopolies is unclear, and the arguments of their leaders are unconvincing, journalists say.
Management of state monopoly companies UkrainergoThe Ukrainian GTS operator introduced a sharp increase in tariffs for 2025, which should cover losses due to ineffective management at the expense of consumers. The publication reported this yesterday BusinessCensor.
Journalists believe that the process of raising tariffs is ambiguous, and the arguments of monopoly leaders are unconvincing.
“Ukrainergo received from NEURC approval of a project to increase the tariff for electricity transmission by 26% – up to 665 UAH per MWh. Even the company itself wants to immediately increase the tariff by 48% – to 783.69 UAH per MWh. That is, the regulator has already found unreasonable costs in the energy monopolist’s calculations. In particular, the company included in its calculations a salary increase of 25% at once and planned to spend more than 800 million Hryvnias on “social events,” the publication notes.
The authors of the article believe that there is room for “cutting appetites” Ukrainergo remains – a large part of its operating costs falls on the compensation of technological costs of electricity in networks, which requires verification. At first Ukrainergo Wanted to include UAH 18.35 billion in the new tariff, but certainly, without explanation, it reduced this amount to UAH 14.34 billion. That is, it recognized that the tariff increase was too high.
The company also nearly doubled the amount for payments under the “green” tariff, and also included payments on loans, which should generally be exempt during wartime and be a matter of agreement with the lender
LLC management Ukrainian GTS operator explained the need to increase the tariff by 305% upon completion of the agreement on the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine, and CEO Dmitry Lippa insisted on the need to increase the monopolist’s tariff revenue at the level of the discount rate of NBU (currently 13.5%).
“At the same time, it is impossible to know where the company will spend the received funds: it did not disclose any of the calculations included in the tariff increase, or financial statements… The management refused to detail the reasons for raising tariffs by 37% at once Ukrzaliznytsia… Exactly how much additional funds the monopolist plans to collect from Ukrainian business, the head of the company does not say… Even the company’s financial plan for 2024 already provides for capital investments in the amount of UAH 38 billion, it is also impossible to check where these funds are directed,” journalists pointed out.
The publication states that state-owned monopoly companies do not take advantage of opportunities to optimize costs and increase profits and are in no hurry to cooperate with creditors.
It will be remembered that last week the leadership Ukrzaliznytsia proposed to increase freight tariffs “only” by 37%. This proposal is currently being considered by the government.
And in November, the National Commission that carries out state regulation in the field of energy and utilities (NCREKU) approved a draft resolution to increase the tariff for electricity transmission by 25.8%. Ukrainergo for 2025.
The regulator also approved a similar resolution on raising LLC tariffs Ukrainian GTS operator for gas transportation services for entry/exit points for 2025-2029 – an increase of 305%.
Source: korrespondent
I’m Liza Grey, an experienced news writer and author at the Buna Times. I specialize in writing about economic issues, with a focus on uncovering stories that have a positive impact on society. With over seven years of experience in the news industry, I am highly knowledgeable about current events and the ways in which they affect our daily lives.