First of all, it refers to electricity rates, since their regulation rests with the government
At a meeting on July 7, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine decided to freeze rates falling within the government's responsibility. This applies, in particular, to electricity rates. How would you assess this decision? The "Comments" portal asked some experts.
There can be no other scenario, otherwise we will face a humanitarian catastrophe
Maksym Bielawski, energy expert at Razumkov Centre, former PR director of Naftogaz of Ukraine, is sure that a moratorium on tariff rise is necessary in the conditions of a cruel war.
"There can be no other scenario, otherwise a humanitarian catastrophe will occur," he explains. "According to my calculations, the unemployment rate has increased by approximately 15%."
As for the consequences for market liquidity, that is, the availability of working capital, the expert does not see any particular risks.
"Despite all the difficulties, Ukrainians have found financial reserves and are more or less consciously paying their bills," Maksym Bielawski notes. “It also makes sense to cancel the increase in the rates of gas pumping and storage set by gas storage operators, since it will keep traders from accumulating stockpiles of the flue fuel, creating a risk on the eve of the heating season. The rationale for such a decision was quite controversial (it dealt with the cost of process gas in previous periods and growth of average wages), so it should be cancelled. Otherwise, this factor will lead to a slight revision of other rates directly carried by consumers after the war".
Source:
