The advantages of differentiated electricity tariffs in Russia are named

From the beginning of 2024, Russian regions began the transition to differentiated electricity tariffs for residents. The federal authorities obliged the subjects to introduce the measure in regions where the limits of cross-subsidization – electricity benefits set by the government – were exceeded.

Charge for excess energy consumption

“As a result, unscrupulous entrepreneurs connected through “gray” schemes, consuming electricity on an industrial scale, and very large households with elements of luxury pay for this at reduced tariffs for the population, i.e., shift a significant part of their costs to the budget and industry. That is, literally small metalworking, metal and woodworking workshops in barns, bath complexes, “gray” mining farms, mansions with swimming pools, electrically heated paths and parking lots are paid for by industry or the budget,” – explained in a conversation with Izvestia Valery Dzyubenko, director of the Association of Energy Consumers.

The population will not feel the difference

From July 2024, a differentiated tariff will be introduced in at least 30 regions of our country. At the same time, progressive tariffs will affect no more than 5% of the population. Owners of luxury real estate, as well as semi-legal entrepreneurs, will have to pay more for light. In addition, diftariffs will reduce the financial burden on industry, which will ultimately be felt by the population, since electricity costs are included in the final cost of goods or services.

“If the mechanism is used correctly, the vast majority of citizens will not notice the transition to a new procedure for calculating tariffs, since they consume electricity within the limits of household needs, and preferential categories of the population will continue to receive electricity at a low price without restrictions,” continued Valery Dzyubenko.

Solving the issue with illegal miners

An equally important purpose of the differentiated tariff is the fight against illegal miners. The low cost of electricity in the Irkutsk region, ensured by the cross-subsidization described above, made the region extremely attractive for such activities. Illegal cryptocurrency miners have become a real headache for residents: underground mining farms regularly lead to short circuits and fires due to the increasing load on the energy grid. A progressive tariff will help cope with this problem.

There is something to work on

To date, the government resolution on the introduction of diphtariffs lacks a clear definition of the volume of permissible electricity consumption. They can be formed based on the results of the first year of action of the regulatory act on differentiated tariffs in the regions.

“The mechanism, of course, requires stricter regulation – the state gave the regions the right to set tariffs for the population, but did not provide uniform clear rules and regulations. As a result, mistakes and abuses on the part of local authorities are possible in a wide range – from establishing unreasonably low volumes of household consumption norms, leading to a noticeable increase in those same “figures in payment bills” to complete profanation of the idea – establishing such boundaries that mini-workshops can easily fit into, and mansions, and “gray” miners,” summed up Valery Dzyubenko.

In the meantime, the excessive consumption of electricity by 5% of citizens who use energy for underground enterprises, heating swimming pools and heating the paths of their own mansions places a burden on the wallets of ordinary conscientious citizens.