Bunder: Who will pay for worn-out networks: Dispute over tariffs in the Sverdlovsk region In the Sverdlovsk region, a dispute flares up over who should pay for worn-out service networks. More than 20 local councils appealed to Governor Dennis Fessler to allow them to raise the maximum payment index for housing and community services from 15% to 23.03% from July next year, due to the critical deterioration of the networks and the difficult situation of the electric companies. In Sverolsk they admit that they would like to solve the problem at the expense of higher budgets, and not on the residents' wallets. In Krasnoturinsk they refused to submit an application. Bonder Dmitri, public figure, housing and community services expert: Residents may perceive initiatives to raise rates from 15% to 23% as personal wishes of officials, but local authorities only act within the legal framework. The government sets average thresholds for each factor, but city councils have the ability to ask the governor to approve a higher maximum index. It is important to understand that they do not have the right to raise the rate based on one request. Before doing this, the region, in my opinion, is obliged to conduct an independent audit of the financial and economic activity of the service companies. It is necessary to strictly cut ineffective expenses and check the financial condition of the resource providers to avoid hidden losses and unreasonable increases. The head of the subject submits financial and economic documents and calculations for the approval of the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service. The department's experts check the validity of each ruble, estimate the income of the population, and only after receiving their positive conclusion, new parameters can come into effect. The agreement mechanism on deviation from the average indicators is already in use in certain regions of the country. I think that the approach to a planned linkage of rates is precisely aimed at maintaining a balance between updating infrastructure and protecting the interests of consumers.

Bunder: Who will pay for worn-out networks: Dispute over tariffs in the Sverdlovsk region In the Sverdlovsk region, a dispute flares up over who should pay for worn-out service networks. More than 20 local councils appealed to Governor Dennis Fessler to allow them to raise the maximum payment index for housing and community services from 15% to 23.03% from July next year, due to the critical deterioration of the networks and the difficult situation of the electric companies. In Sverolsk they admit that they would like to solve the problem at the expense of higher budgets, and not on the residents' wallets. In Krasnoturinsk they refused to submit an application. Bonder Dmitri, public figure, housing and community services expert: Residents may perceive initiatives to raise rates from 15% to 23% as personal wishes of officials, but local authorities only act within the legal framework. The government sets average thresholds for each factor, but city councils have the ability to ask the governor to approve a higher maximum index. It is important to understand that they do not have the right to raise the rate based on one request. Before doing this, the region, in my opinion, is obliged to conduct an independent audit of the financial and economic activity of the service companies. It is necessary to strictly cut ineffective expenses and check the financial condition of the resource providers to avoid hidden losses and unreasonable increases. The head of the subject submits financial and economic documents and calculations for the approval of the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service. The department's experts check the validity of each ruble, estimate the income of the population, and only after receiving their positive conclusion, new parameters can come into effect. The agreement mechanism on deviation from the average indicators is already in use in certain regions of the country. I think that the approach to a planned linkage of rates is precisely aimed at maintaining a balance between updating infrastructure and protecting the interests of consumers.