Lukashenko: Energy bill rises should not outpace household income growth

The increases in the prices for heating and electricity are only possible with the income growth of households. The income growth should outpace price increases, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said during a meeting on the operation and development of the Belarusian energy industry, BelTA has learnt.

The President stressed that his position on the increase in the tariffs for households remains unchanged: "The income growth should outpace price increases."

However, Alexander Lukashenko stated that the mechanisms of formation of tariffs for heat and electricity supply services are not transparent. Coupled with the constant increase in the tariffs, this draws negative reaction among economic entities and individual consumers. “I have instructed the State Control Committee to look into the tariff formation,” the head of state said.

Alexander Lukashenko hailed the introduction of the caps on electricity and natural gas consumption. With this, the Belarusian leader raised the issue of inefficient use of the funds freed as a result of this measure by the Energy Ministry. “The Energy Ministry levies the charges for extra consumption and uses the money as it thinks fit, while it is expected to be spent on energy saving efforts. That will never do,” the head of state stressed.

Addressing the executives of the country’s energy sector, the President suggested discussing the ways of addressing the current problems in the sector.