Tariffs in Moscow will not catch up with inflation – Economics – Kommersant

The next increase in tariffs for housing and communal services, postponed from 2023 to December 2022 to preserve the possibility of developing the utility industry, in Moscow will be lower than inflation and will amount to 9%. Such a decision, as it became known to Kommersant, was made on Tuesday at a meeting of the presidium of the capital’s government. At the same time, the indexation of Moscow social benefits will overtake the rise in prices in housing and communal services – their city budget is expected to be raised by 10%.

The transfer of the “tariff step” – traditionally, prices for housing and communal services change from July 1 – to the beginning of December is adopted at the federal level, this is done in order to partially compensate the industry for losses due to a significant discrepancy between the previous tariff revision in the summer of 2022 and real inflation, which , according to the forecast of the Ministry of Economy, at the end of the year will be 13.9%. On Tuesday, at a meeting of the Presidium of the Government of Moscow, a package of documents was adopted bringing the current acts of the city of Moscow into line with the above decision. According to them, the cumulative increase in the cost of utilities will be 9%, which is almost five percentage points below the forecast inflation.

• Tariffs for communal services will be indexed from December 1, for housing services – from January 1.
• The next tariff revision by the decision of the White House is scheduled for July 1, 2024 – before this date they should not increase.
• The mayor’s office separately notes that the cost of waste management services this year will remain virtually unchanged.
• The minimum contribution for major repairs will be set at 24.09 rubles. per sq. m.
• At the same time, the Moscow budget for 2023 provides for the indexation of all social payments by 10% – higher than the established limit for the growth of housing and communal services tariffs.
• In addition, all existing benefits and subsidies for payment of housing and communal services remain.

Today, in Moscow, more than 3.5 million citizens enjoy various benefits in this area, and another 500,000 receive subsidies. Simultaneously with the indexation of tariffs, the standards for the cost of housing and communal services will be revised to calculate subsidies to citizens, which will ensure support for those in need. Subsidies can be received by all Muscovites whose expenses for housing and communal services in the total family income are more than 10%.

State housing stock, by decision of the mayor’s office, will continue to be rented out at rates well below market rates. Rental rates will be set significantly lower than the base rate calculated according to the federal methodology, which is 288.31 rubles per sq. m. m. In Moscow, from January 1, 2023, social benefits for beneficiaries will be set at an average of 20 rubles per sq. m. m, other tenants – 35 rubles / sq. m.

Department of Economics