Ukrainian government raises fines for abuse on electricity market

The Cabinet of Ministers has decided to strengthen the responsibility of distribution system operators for abuse on the electricity market, Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk has said.

"We are strengthening the responsibility of natural monopolies for abuse on the electricity market. In Ukraine, distribution system operators (that is, the same 'natural monopolies') often abuse their position. They sometimes charge too much for connection to power grids. In addition, they demand bribes from businesses, threatening to delay the review of documents indefinitely," Honcharuk wrote on his Telegram channel following a government meeting on Wednesday.

Of course, he added, it holds back the arrival of investors in the regions, slows job creation, and negatively affects local budgets.

"The government is strengthening the responsibility of distribution system operators for such actions, in particular, by increasing the amount of penalties," Honcharuk said.

According to him, the Cabinet of Ministers also increases the level of control over the use of funds collected from consumers. They will be spent on the development of power grids, not on the personal needs of the owners of regional power supply companies, Honcharuk said.

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