Debtors for electricity will be required to install smart meters

As Kommersant writes, smart electricity meters in multi-apartment and private buildings are required to be installed by last resort suppliers (GP) of electricity and grid companies (ESCs). The costs of their purchase and installation are included in the sales surcharge (7% of the final price) and in the tariff for energy transmission services. Debtors who received notification before the end of 2023, meters will be delivered within six months, after January 1, 2024 - three months.

Experts believe that this is a measure of influence on persistent non-payers for selective use. It is unlikely that such a measure will be taken in relation to socially unprotected categories of citizens, since the cost of a meter is practically equal to the price of electricity for 2-3 years. The fine for those who refuse to comply with the requirement will be 14-40 thousand rubles, taking into account the installation.

According to representatives of the Association of SOEs and ESCs, this is not a punitive measure, but a way to simplify the introduction of restrictions against persistent non-payers.

It is noted that end consumers are gradually increasing debts for electricity: the average level of payments for January-April fell to 98% against 98.7% a year earlier. The total debt at the end of April amounted to 315.3 billion rubles, of which 75.6 billion rubles (24%) fell on the population. The average level of settlements of the population in January-April 2023 amounted to 96.5% against 97% a year ago. Moreover, management companies, housing and communal services, homeowners' associations pay the worst for electricity. The level of settlements for this group fell to 97.8% against 98.7% a year earlier, and the debt reached 173.7 billion rubles.

By the way, at the end of last year, the Federal Antimonopoly Service began checking, on the initiative of Rosneft, the growth of wholesale electricity prices in the European part of Russia and the Urals. The reason for the investigation was a significant increase in electricity prices in the first price zone of the energy market (the European part of the Russian Federation and the Urals) in relation to the pre-pandemic 2019. Rosneft believes that the reason for the increase in prices was "increased bids from energy producers" at the DAM auction.

It's worth reminding that at the beginning of the year, the Federal Tax Service announced the suspension of the initiation of bankruptcy of debtors. The government discussed the possibility of imposing a moratorium on initiating bankruptcy cases at the request of creditors.