Ukrainian energy official defends rising costs despite blackouts and blackouts

Ukrainian residents have faced mandatory blackouts in their own country and sudden blackouts due to Russian missile strikes during the ongoing war that is in its 12th month. These residents could now face higher electricity costs even if they don’t have much electricity at all.

Ukrainian managing director of energy supplier Yasno Serhii Kovalenko wrote on Facebook yesterday that rising costs for residents of his country are likely to increase. In his social media post, he answered the most common question: “If there’s almost no supply, why am I saying consumption hasn’t gone down/why payments have gone up ?”

Here is his answer.

“First of all: it is a delay or an increase in the consumption of electricity after the restoration of the service… So at the end of the month, it turns out that the customer has consumed the same amount of electricity than at times of blackouts were not applied,” Kovalenko wrote.

Kovalenko then answered the question of even cutting off the electricity at all.

“Consumption at a specific time is now important. Because specific volumes of electricity are produced, which cannot be exceeded.”

Kovalenko went on to say that payments could be misinterpreted because meter readings could be transmitted irregularly or even late.

“If the bills are submitted on time, the bill will show only the amount of actual consumption. If the bills are not delivered on time, the amount of electricity consumed by the customer is determined by the average daily consumption,” said Kovalenko.

“It is calculated based on readings recorded earlier in past periods. Therefore, the amount of the bill may be higher than usual, even if the overall consumption for the month has decreased due to the power failure But for those who report on time, the actual amount consumed has now gone down.”

The war has entered its 12th month and is particularly harsh during the Ukrainian winter when there is no electricity.

Newsweek contacted the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comments.

Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine passed the 11-month mark this week. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Russia, which is believed to have lost more than 125,000 troops since the start of the war, has shifted its focus to southern Ukraine, including a heavy presence in the Black Sea.

Russia is said to have three ships in the Black Sea capable of firing Kalibr cruise missiles. The Kyiv Independent states that these ships have 20 missiles on them and that there are 16 Russian warships positioned in the Black Sea ready to strike at any time.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky managed to get a swath of tanks and some air defense systems from Western allies that will arrive soon, and now he’s reportedly asking the West for fighter jets.