Commentary by Anatoly Golov, 2.10.2018

The Kommersant newspaper reported that the government returned to the idea of introducing a social standard of energy consumption for the population, when tariffs sharply increase when the limit is exceeded. According to Kommersant, the scheme was approved by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak, and [ministerial] departments should introduce their drafts in January 2019. At the same time, the government may refuse benefits for rural dwellers and owners of apartments with electric stoves. The consequences of the introduction of such a norm were evaluated by Anatoly Golov, Co-Chairman of the Social-Democratic Faction of Yabloko and housing and public utilities expert:

– Lobbyists of the social norm explain to us that the richest, those who can not save electricity, will have to pay more. It is a lie. As is known, more than half of settlements in Russia are not gasified. In winter people have to heat their homes with electricity there, and they spend a lot more than the 300 kWh limit. And, certainly, [we should also take into account that] there is no gas in small towns where the poorest people live. This is in the first place.

Second, the government confirms that our economy is inefficient. In a healthy economy, an increase in consumption is welcome: it is always more profitable to buy a larger package of products than a small one. Everyone is interested in selling more. We have the opposite [in Russia]. If you consume more, you have to be punished. In such an economy, you can introduce a social norm for everything: for bread or milk. But they have started with electricity.

Moreover, we have been promised for many years that energy will be abundant in the country, it will be cheaper. But it only becomes more expensive.

*Anatoly Golov is member of the Yabloko Bureau, head of Yabloko’s Socio-Democratic Faction and Co-Chair of the Consumers’ Union of the RF.