According to Decree № 138 of the Council of Ministers of Belarus of February 4, new tariffs for housing and public utilities was set in Belarus on February 1. The Ministry of Economy reported that the average payments for utility services (per family of three, living in a two room apartment with total area of 48 square meters) would rise $5 up.
According to the resolution of the Council of Ministers, tariffs for dwelling houses’ maintenance increased by 4.4% and amounted to Br309 a month per square meter of living space. The Belarusian citizens will pay 21.2% more (Br467.5 per cubic meter) for cold water from February 1.
At the same time thermal energy tariffs for heating and hot water haven’t been changed (Br43.4 thousand per 1 Gcal). Rates for sewage system (Br242 per cubic meter), removal and disposal of solid waste (Br4.7 thousand per cubic meter), as well as the use of elevators (1.4 thousand), remained the same.
The new tariffs for electricity have been established as well. Belarusians will pay Br193.8 per kilowatt-hour from February 1. Meanwhile, the ruling of the Council of Ministers establishes the tariffs, differentiated by time periods. Thus, cost of electricity during the period of minimum loads (from 22:00 to 17:00) is Br135.7 with differential approach, while during peak periods (17:00 to 22:00) — Br387.6 per kilowatt hour. Citizens, whose homes are equipped with electric stoves, will pay Br164.6 per kilowatt-hour (Br115.2 in the periods of minimum loads and Br329.2 — in peaks).
The cost of electricity for heating and hot water supply with attached power equipment for more than five kilowatts during minimum loads (from 23:00 to 06:00) is set at Br193.8; while Br581.4 — for the rest of the day.
Resolution of the Council of Ministers also specified price for natural and liquefied gas. Belarusians will pay Br307.7 per cubic meter of natural gas in homes, apartments and country houses during the heating period and Br848.7 in summer time. The cost of cubic meter of natural gas, used for heating of non-residential premises (except premises of residential houses), will be Br946.2.
The cost of cubic meters of liquefied gas, used in homes and apartments during the heating period, is Br7.2 thousand (with individual gas heaters or gas water heaters), in the summer — Br2.2 thousand, BelTA informs.
In addition, new tariffs for cold-water supply and sanitation for people, living in individual houses (cottages), was set on February 1. Citizens will pay Br1.4 per cubic meter of cold water and Br1.1 thousand per cubic meter of wastewater, consumed in excess of the norms approved by the local executive and administrative bodies.
As Telegraf previously reported, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, speaking at a meeting on economic development on January 18, demanded from the government not to increase the cost of housing services for more than $5 a year. Addressing the members of the Government, Alexander Lukashenko said that he would not consider their quotations without proper justification.
