Lukashenka's decree: Utility costs to increase with dollar rate growth

Utility costs will be revised as the population income and the dollar rate will grow.

Utility companies complain the level of reimbursement of the state's expenses on utilities is lower than expected due to the falling Belarusian ruble. In this regard, the authorities decided to amend the Decree on Measures to Increase Efficiency of Utility Companies, Yezhednevnik reports.

The press release of Lukashenka's press service explains the amendments by a desire to prevent “a decrease in the recoupment of costs of utility services”. Utility costs for population will be revised.

Utility tariffs will grow annually on January 1 by $5 “at the annual average exchange rate”. However, the costs can grow higher if the ruler gives his consent.

The calculations will be based on a family of three people living in a two-room flat of 48 square metres “with the consumption of utility services within the standards”.

The Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Housing and Utilities, the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Finance were ordered to deal with the issue.

Besides annual increases, utility costs will be revised every quarter with the growth of population income. The sum of the increase will depend on the actual index of nominal wages in the preceding quarter.