In the Saratov region may increase tariffs for water and heat

The Ministry of Construction of Russia proposed to revise tariffs for utility services to find money for repairing utility networks. We are talking about premiums for heat, water supply and sanitation. The Ministry emphasizes that these funds will not go into the pocket of suppliers, and will be directed exclusively to upgrade the worn infrastructure and overhaul. The initiative was disassembled by “MK in Saratov”.

It'll cost you a penny

Residents of apartment buildings may be required to pay for the repair of networks and boiler rooms.

Minstroy wants to raise tariffs on heat and water to finally take over the grid. As reported at the round table in the Federation Council, Deputy Director of the Department of Housing and Utilities Development Fyodor Kozlov, the Agency has developed the concept of “investment allowances”. The money should go to the repair and modernization of communal infrastructure, according to RBC. The participants of the discussion said that the funds that resource suppliers receive at the usual tariff are enough only to maintain the system, and there is allegedly no money for a full-fledged replacement of pipes. Now the agency is discussing this project with the FAS, the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Energy, and they promise to submit it to the Government of the Russian Federation until the end of 2026. The exact amounts and terms have not yet been announced, but allowances are planned to be included in receipts for heat and water supply.

Recall that from October 1, 2026, tariffs for communal services in the country increased by 8-22% depending on the region. In the Saratov region, the growth was 11.1%.

The payment of discord

It is not clear what targeted allowances to utility payments can be discussed if funds for maintenance, overhaul and emergency repair of pipes and boiler houses, modernization and reconstruction of infrastructure are already included in tariffs.

“The tariff is formed in such a way that the resource company has the means to cover these costs and maintain the infrastructure in working condition,” explains Natalia Karaman, Chairman of the human rights regional public organization “Protection”. Any surcharge to the tariff is double taxation. In fact, the same costs will be laid in the tariff regulation again, and where is the limit? Maybe we should analyze the work of resource supplying companies and find out where citizens’ funds have gone over the years. And how did it happen that the resource workers have not yet repaired boiler houses and networks?

According to the interlocutor of “MK in Saratov”, the initiative on individual targeted surcharges to the existing tariff says only one thing: ordinary citizens want to see in co-investors. At the same time, now resource-supplying organizations can lay investment programs in the tariff.

- In my opinion, such proposals from the Ministry of Construction are overkill, says Natalia Karaman. Citizens barely cope with current payments for utility services against the background of rising prices of products, gasoline, rising prices for transport.

Another serious blow to the wallets of the population may be the refusal to smooth the growth of utility tariffs. The Ministry of Construction proposes to transfer the right to set the index of fee increase at the level of regions. Officials believe that this will help local authorities to solve the issue taking into account the economy and the needs of a particular territory. Now the limit indices of increasing fees for housing and communal services for each subject of the Federation are set by the Government of the Russian Federation. However, conditions in the regions are too different. So, in the Saratov region from January 1, 2027, the tariff for major repairs will increase by one and a half times: the minimum contribution will be raised from 10.84 to 16.26 rubles per square meter. At the same time, in the neighboring Samara region, the fee will increase by only 10%, and in a number of other regions of the Volga Federal District, the authorities do not plan to increase contributions in the new year.

Figure in the subject: 600 million rubles owed by residents of the Saratov region for services