In 2025, it is planned to double the heating tariffs in Tashkent. This was announced on December 18 by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Jashid Kuchkarov during a plenary session of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis.
The official acknowledged that the situation with heat supply is "a bit more complicated" than with electricity and gas. He cited the "large discrepancy" between market prices and the current heating tariffs, which vary significantly by region.
There are also issues with technology, including the installation of measuring devices for heating systems. Kuchkarov pointed out the high cost of centralized heating services in cities.
“It is quite difficult to immediately increase [heating tariffs] to a level that covers costs in 2025 and 2026,” he stated.
According to him, the boilers and heating networks that remain from the Soviet era are heavily outdated. Moreover, the infrastructure consumes a lot of gas and has a low efficiency coefficient.
Additionally, the head of the Ministry of Economy and Finance announced plans to raise heating tariffs twice in the capital.
“Recently, the Council of People's Deputies of Tashkent adopted a decree stating that in 2025, tariffs will be increased twice. However, even this is not enough to cover the tariffs. No matter how large the budget of Tashkent is, we still have to allocate subsidies from the republican budget for heating,” Kuchkarov added.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the energy reform will conclude with the establishment of retail and wholesale electricity and gas markets. As a result, the practice of providing subsidies in the energy sector will cease.
In Tashkent, as of November 15, tariffs for hot water and heating have increased. The rates rose by 15% for citizens and businesses, marking the second increase this year. Previously, the capital's council decided to raise tariffs for hot water and heating starting in April.
The operator of the heating system, Veolia Energy Tashkent, explained the tariff increase by the rising costs of energy resources needed for heat generation. The company noted that the new tariff for citizens covers only 18% of the base price, with the remainder subsidized.
In December, a representative of the Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services, Ilkhom Toraev, announced plans for a spring increase in tariffs for heating and hot water in Tashkent. Two indexations of 15% each are planned for the regions.
Earlier, Spot reported that subsidies for electricity and gas would cease starting in 2028.