New regulatory proposals concerning social welfare provisions and adjustments to public utility pricing have been officially submitted for public review in Uzbekistan, setting the stage for significant changes ahead of the winter season.

According to the draft presidential decree, low-income and vulnerable families are slated to receive a one-time financial aid payment of 1 million soums in November. Furthermore, for residents living in non-gasified areas, the baseline monthly limit for electricity consumption during the winter months is proposed to be raised from 200 kWh to 350 kWh.

The draft framework also outlines compensatory measures for disadvantaged households regarding liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), offering a subsidy of 3,000 soums per kilogram for up to 20 kilograms per month. These initiatives purportedly aim to cushion the economic blow of the upcoming cold season.

Concurrently, a draft resolution from the Cabinet of Ministers suggests setting the price of liquefied gas at 5,000 soums per kilogram and introducing revised heating and hot water tariffs starting from November 1. Specifically, heating and hot water services are projected to undergo an average indexation of 30 percent.

Observers note that hot water tariffs are being centrally approved by the government on a nationwide scale for the first time. In Tashkent, heating rates are allegedly set to become 314 soums per square meter per day, with the public discussion period for all proposed documents scheduled to run until October 28.

Source: kun.uz