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As the cold season begins, thousands of Uzbek residents have started turning on their gas boilers, only to be hit with unpleasant “surprises” in the form of inflated gas bills. Social media is overflowing with complaints from users who are facing financial difficulties due to the new tariffs and established norms for social consumption. Homeowners who rely on gas to heat their homes are particularly affected, with daily gas costs averaging between 30,000 and 40,000 soums.
Social Norm: Help or Threat?
This year, Uzbekistan introduced so-called “social norms” for the consumption of natural gas. From March to October, this norm is set at 100 cubic meters per month, while from November to February, it increases to 500 cubic meters. Within the social norm, one cubic meter of gas costs 650 soums. However, if consumption exceeds these limits, the price sharply rises to 1,500 soums per cubic meter (up to 2,500 cubic meters).
At first glance, this might seem like a fair mechanism to regulate consumption and promote resource conservation. But for homeowners, this system becomes a real trap. By October, when people start turning on their heating systems, the 100 cubic meter social norm is quickly exhausted, and many families are forced to pay for gas at an inflated rate. As noted by users in the “Potrebitel.uz” community, daily gas payments range from 30,000 to 40,000 soums, adding up to a significant amount by the end of the month.
Gas: A Luxury for the Majority?
For many, these numbers seem unrealistic. In a country where the minimum pension is around 1.2 million soums, and most salaries barely exceed 2-3 million soums per month, such gas expenses become a disaster for the family budget. People are forced to choose: either pay for heating or cover their basic needs. Gas, which should be an accessible resource for all citizens, is slowly turning into a luxury.
This crisis highlights the imbalance between the real incomes of the population and the rising tariffs for energy resources. Gas payments have reached such levels that for many families, especially pensioners, they now equal their monthly income. The question arises: Are these gas prices truly exorbitant, or is the problem rooted in insufficient wages and pensions? Perhaps the government needs to reevaluate both aspects before the majority of the population finds itself in an even more difficult situation.
What’s Next?
The issue of gas tariffs requires immediate attention. It’s clear that the current system of social norms and inflated tariffs work against the interests of citizens. The government needs to reconsider the current regulations and adapt them to the real living conditions of the people. Otherwise, the situation with gas payments could lead to widespread debt, a decline in quality of life, and growing social unrest.
Additionally, the government should consider subsidizing gas for vulnerable segments of the population and developing programs to improve the energy efficiency of private homes. These measures would help reduce the financial burden on families and prevent serious social issues in the future.
At present, thousands of people are forced to pay more for gas than they can afford, facing the harsh choice: heat their homes and struggle to make ends meet, or live in the cold but have enough to eat.
The article may contain inaccuracies as it is translated by AI. For more details, please refer to the Russian version of the article. If you notice any inaccuracies, you can send corrections via the Telegram bot: Uzvaibik_bot.