Residents of Kyiv are facing unexpected problems with utility payments. June heating bills have included surcharges related to January — a month when a significant part of the capital remained without heat due to the consequences of Russian shelling and failures in the heating supply system.
Mass complaints and the Ombudsman's reaction
Information about the problem came from Dmytro Lyubynets, the Ombudsman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. According to him, between January and March alone, the Ombudsman's Office received more than 600 appeals from citizens complaining about the absence or poor quality of heating services.
Lyubynets emphasized a fundamental position: consumers must pay only for services actually received. "In the event of absence or improper provision of services, citizens' rights must be protected, and billing mechanisms must be transparent and understandable," he stated.
Utility providers' explanation and demands to the government
The utility company "Kyivteploenergo" explains the surcharges as an automatic recalculation conducted in accordance with the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 683. However, for many residents, such charges appear unfair given the actual living conditions in January.
In this regard, Dmytro Lyubynets sent an appeal to the Vice Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine, Minister of Communities and Territories Development, Oleksiy Kuleba. The Ombudsman demands to verify the legality of such charges and provide consumers with clear explanations regarding the recalculation procedure.
Additional oversight from deputies
The issue has also attracted the attention of Deputy Yulia Sviridenko. She requested specific addresses to verify the situation and reported that Vice Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba would take up this issue. Thus, the question of heating surcharges for January is becoming a subject of close attention from both human rights defenders and legislators.