Transcarpathia may be left without gas!

The actions of the National Commission for State Regulation in Energy and Utilities could lead to the disruption of the heating season in the region and jeopardized further trouble-free and uninterrupted supply of natural gas to consumers in the region, the press service of the Zakarpathaz reported.

For more than a month – since July 1, 2015 – the funds received from customers as payment for gas by residents of Transcarpathian region have been being accumulated on the accounts with the special use regime opened at the "Oshchadbank" and not been distributed properly among the market participants. This situation is caused by the unlawful decision of the National Commission for State Regulation in Energy and Utilities to change the Algorithm for distribution of the funds transferred from gas consumers to distribution accounts of the providers. The Algorithm was adopted with a gross violation of the law, which stopped the flow of funds on distribution accounts and made settlements between the participants of the gas market impossibile.

It jeopardized stable operation of the "Zakarpathaz" PJSC and the "Zakarpathaz Zbut" LLC, and consequently, uninterrupted and trouble-free gas supply to consumers in Transcarpathian region and the preparation for the heating season. 

The "Zakarpathaz Zbut" LLC timely warned the National Commission about the unacceptability of decisions contrary to the law, including the Commercial Code of Ukraine and the Law of Ukraine "On principles of functioning of the natural gas market." Thus, such actions by the National Commission could be interpreted as a deliberate violation of the current legislation of Ukraine. The State Regulatory Office has withdrawn its approval of the abovementioned decisions of the National Commission on the Algorithm of funds distribution, resulting in its invalidity and cancellation of the state registration. The current situation threatens the loss of control over the processes, and consequently the reliability and safety of gas supply to consumers of Transcarpathian region.