In Irkutsk region, new utility consumption standards were postponed from July 1, 2013 to January 1, 2014 to prevent citizen payments from rising more than 6 percent on average per year. Regional authorities ordered tighter control over management company calculations and recommended extra targeted social support for those whose bills still rise. Specialists are already conducting inspections, reviewing residents appeals and holding management companies liable for violations. The article also explains how municipal housing control is organized in the region and which utility services are included in the fee.
The Minister explained that, in accordance with the instruction of Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Dmitry Kozak, an increase in citizens’ payments for utility services in 2013 of more than 6% on an annual average basis compared with the level of payments in December 2012 is unacceptable. Governor of the Irkutsk Region Sergey Eroshchenko instructed all relevant agencies in the region to strictly monitor unconditional compliance with this requirement. For this reason, new utility consumption standards will be introduced not on July 1, 2013, but on January 1, 2014.The Ministry of Housing Policy, Energy and Transport of the region has approved a new calculation method for determining utility consumption standards in the absence of metering devices. Municipalities of the Angara region are recommended to take additional measures of targeted social support for citizens whose utility payments will increase due to the introduction of new consumption standards on January 1, 2014.
The head of the State and Construction Supervision Service of the Irkutsk Region, Margarita Li, explained to journalists that the Service’s specialists constantly carry out inspections of management companies regarding compliance with the procedure for calculating consumed utility services: adjustments to payments for consumed thermal energy, and the correctness of applying the readings of common-household and individual metering devices.
According to Margarita Li, in 2012–2013 the Service conducted more than 70 scheduled inspections, and more than 300 citizen appeals were received, each of which is being addressed. Management companies are held administratively liable—they are fined and issued orders to bring calculations into compliance with legal requirements.
– The adoption of new regulatory legal acts usually causes a wave of questions among residents. I would like to remind you that we accept all citizens’ appeals, – Margarita Li said.
She also noted that municipal housing control has been introduced in the region as well—it is a more effective and faster way to influence management companies.
The Ministry of Housing Policy, Energy and Transport and the State and Construction Supervision Service are currently drawing up a schedule of joint trips by specialists who will inspect the organization of municipal housing control and the legality of the actions of management companies.
Recall that, according to Part 4 of Article 154 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, payment for utility services includes payment for hot water supply, cold water supply, wastewater disposal, electricity supply, gas supply (including the supply of household gas in cylinders), heating (heat supply, including the supply of solid fuel where stove heating is available).
Based on materials from the press service of the Government of the Irkutsk Region