Despite the decisions of deputies, water in Uzhgorod is 11.84 UAH. But the water utility needs to be modernized… (commentary)

We have to disappoint you: despite the fact that on Friday, at the session of Uzhgorod City Council, deputies supposedly "abolished" the increased tariff for water supply, we will still have to pay the new price. The City Council can not independently regulate the price of utilities. At least this applies to water.

The Acting Mayor of Uzhgorod Victor Shchadey comments: "The City Council can not reverse the decision of Kyiv, the decision of the National Commission. Tariffs for water, electricity and gas are set in Kyiv. We have to explain that to Uzhgorod residents, because there are people who say it is the City Council that sets the tariffs. It is unfair because people do not always understand it, and the city officials would have not set such rates. It is the responsibility of Kyiv. And we can not influence it.   We have adopted the appeal to Kyiv. We voted for it. We are waiting for their reply. But it is doubtful that they will make an exception for Uzhgorod. We know, there are the demands of the International Monetary Fund and the tariffs are being brought in line with the cost. The situation is complicated."

Uzhgorod.in asked the interim head of the city – will it cause them to deal with the problems of the water utility more closely? Victor Shchadey replied as follows: "We had been dealing with the issue of the water utility even before that, we had repeatedly heard reports of the director, asked him how they had fulfilled the commitments taken over in May. We’ll hear more. In addition, we have spoken with officials from Nyíregyháza, representatives of the Czech Republic – whether they were willing to invest money in the Vodokanal. Because the main problem is outdated equipment that consumes a lot of electricity. Today, the cost of electricity is the largest part of the cost of water. And also, old networks, because of which, there are large losses of water. Only investments can solve these issues and we can get a lower price for water."

As for the letters, which the city council sent to the central government on regulation of tariffs in general, and the need of coordination thereof with the community, Victor Shchadey is not too optimistic. He explains: "I doubt that this will change anything in Kyiv. We did it to demonstrate our position in response to an attempt to mislead Uzhgorod residents that supposedly it is the municipality that such high tariffs. In fact, it is a monopoly, and our city water utility depends of the power company and their tariffs."

Meenwhile, the Vodokanal is going to be inspected – deputies voted for that on Friday.