The government's and the NBU's plan for an annual increase in electricity tariffs by 20% over three years is seen as a 'hidden quasi-tax' to cover the inefficiencies of state management and payments for external debts. The head of the Union of Consumers of Public Utilities, Oleg Popenko, made this statement during an interview with Yuriy Romanenko, emphasizing that the increase in tariffs is not related to the actual restoration of the energy infrastructure.
The expert criticized the official explanation from the authorities about the need to raise tariffs for restoring the energy infrastructure.
Popenko believes that both private and public energy companies should independently raise funds for repairs through loans or eurobonds, without shifting their own business costs onto the population. He thinks that such an approach by the authorities is more likely aimed at covering financial deficits and repaying debts than at the actual restoration of the energy sector.