In March, millions of consumers switched to economy mode and began to spend less water and heat to cut spending on utilities. In the result, the average check for the payment of utility bills for the previous month decreased by 14%. But it’s flowers! Adopted a moratorium on penalties and disconnection of services for nonpayment encourage many citizens who lost in the current situation, the income simply to ignore the utilities, and made available through this money to spend on food, medicines and other primary needs. Experts predict that the collection rate can be reduced in two times.
the Average bill for utilities in March dropped to an annual rate of 14%. “Reduced checks for water by 37%, heat 10%, rent 15%, check for electricity increased by 18%,” — said the Bank analysts, who had spent the calculations. Compared to February fell by 4%.
the Experts concluded that the decline in the March accounts associated with the consumer savings. But the growth of payments for electricity due to tariff increase.
According to forecasts of experts, in April it is expected a sharp increase in an average bill for utility services. Communal costs will increase due to the injection mode isolation: people often take a bath, clean, wash and cook. The houses and apartments are much more consumed power. Meanwhile, to pay the increased bills will not all consumers, and such behavior will have objective reasons: dismissal, reduction of wages and income.
There is another factor that can trigger the growth of household debt. As you know, among measures to support Russians in the period of the pandemic of coronavirus, is the exemption from penalties for non-payment of utility services: the corresponding decree has been signed by the head of government.
Adopted a moratorium on fines and disconnection of utility services for nonpayment are absolutely correct measures, but it can really jeopardize the supplier and the organization says the head of the noncommercial Organization of people’s control Natalia Chernysheva. “According to our estimates, the collection of payments for utilities may be the end of next months reduced at least two times, maybe more. Even if people at the moment and have the ability to pay bills in March, they may decide to save the money to buy products in the future because it is difficult to predict what will happen to their income in the coming months,” she said.
According to the expert, in this regard, the state will in any case have to help resursosnabzhayuschih organizations from the budget, so they’re not discontinued because of lack of Finance. Note that in different countries in this issue approach the RA��nome, for example, in France, Spain, the authorities are fully or partially compensate the residents with payments for utilities. It is possible that Russia will decide that it is easier to compensate the forced loss of resource supply organizations directly, and then still to get people to gradually pay off their debts.
“the moratorium on the fines and penalties set only until January 1, 2021, and after this period again can return penalties and disconnection for nonpayment of resources. However, in this situation people will be even harder to pay the accumulated amount, emphasizes Chernyshev. — It seems appropriate for the authorities to offset the payment of bills for utilities by at least 50%, and this discount amount for withdrawal were specified in the payment. Then people will be able to appreciate that the government takes care of them and try to make efforts to pay the remaining part.”
However, experts believe that the regret of resource providers, which risk to remain without money of consumers is inappropriate. First, it is likely that public utilities, the state compensates their losses. And secondly, some resursnyi behave in the circumstances is clearly incorrect: they do for the residents of the allocations and in the current difficult conditions increase the account. A scandal like this, recall that last week erupted in Komi Republic. “Each such case must be dealt with separately, and with the involvement of housing inspection,” urges affected residents Chernyshev.
