Following extensive monitoring and oversight activities conducted by the Competition Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a massive systemic discrepancy regarding consumer utility billing has been successfully resolved. Nearly 800,000 citizens who were temporarily residing elsewhere or staying abroad had their unjust utility debts totaling around 22 billion soms recalculated and canceled.

The comprehensive investigation revealed that database records concerning numerous subscribers severely conflicted with actual real-world conditions, while information on new customers routinely failed to be updated in the registry systems. Specifically, significant discrepancies were discovered regarding individuals temporarily residing, working, seeking employment, or studying outside the country.

The findings indicated that roughly 800,000 people were incorrectly billed for municipal solid waste removal services despite not being present, alongside nearly 100 individuals charged in unmetered residences where they did not actually live. Thanks to the regulatory intervention, the consumer rights of these individuals were restored, nullifying the fabricated financial liabilities.

Under current regulatory frameworks, if supporting documents are provided, debt recalculations date back to the exact time of occupancy changes; otherwise, adjustments cover the preceding three months. To prevent recurrence, the Committee has proposed integrating billing platforms with national migration databases and establishing automatic monthly recalculations for citizens staying abroad for over a month.

Source: kun.uz