OREANDA-NEWS The government wants to encourage the regions to introduce differentiation of electricity tariffs for the population, Kommersant reports. In this case, the tariff rate will increase with an increase in consumption.

It is assumed that only regions that have switched to new tariffs for the population will be able to exceed the maximum amount of cross-subsidization (business surcharge for reducing tariffs of the population). An alternative to switching to a new mechanism for the regions is subsidizing the tariff for the population from their budgets.

Potentially, the initiative will force the whole country to switch to new tariffs, the publication adds. This is due to the fact that almost all regions in 2024, when setting tariffs, go beyond the established subsidy ceiling.

Experts doubt the effectiveness of the measure, believing that the regions will fulfill the requirement formally and will not increase tariffs for the population.

The FAS confirmed that they propose to introduce such a measure from January 1, 2024. The transition to tariff differentiation will "reduce cross-subsidization, as well as combat gray mining." They stressed that tariffs for the population will be set taking into account the limitation of the limit levels.