The Ukrainian authorities promote 'European standards' in tariff formation, but only a few European countries apply market prices for gas for the population. The rest use various compensation mechanisms to protect citizens from price shocks.
Expert Oleg Popenko emphasized that in Europe, there is no equivalence of utility tariffs for the population to market prices. Only five countries apply the market price of gas for residents.
Countries that use market prices are switching to electricity, getting rid of gas. This practice is common in Scandinavia due to low electricity tariffs in these countries.
The main principle of European social policy is that utility payments should not exceed 10% of the family's income. Even in the UK, where market mechanisms are preferred, there are programs to reduce water tariffs.
The expert urged the Ukrainian authorities to study the European experience of protecting the population from price shocks in the utility sector, without hiding behind 'European standards'.