Heating Companies Dodge Blame for Cold Apartments
Expert Oleg Popenko has exposed a mechanism used by heating utilities to avoid responsibility for low temperatures in residential units. They exploit Law No. 417-VIII and a systemic conflict between building codes and property legislation. This is a common issue in post-Soviet utility sectors, where regulatory gaps are often exploited. According to state building codes (DBN) and Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 830, providers are obligated to supply heating according to a schedule and maintain temperatures in living spaces at +18/+20 degrees Celsius. However, suppliers employ a manipulation scheme by deliberately lowering the temperature of the heating medium at the building's intake point.
When residents complain, the suppliers cite Law No. 417-VIII, claiming the causes of the cold lie with old networks, poor insulation, or internal heat loss within the building. Yet, as Popenko points out, Law No. 417-VIII does not nullify their duty to provide a quality service. Residents' responsibility for the state of internal networks only comes into play if the heating medium parameters at the building's intake meet the established standards.
The Manipulation Scheme of Heating Providers
The manipulation scheme operates as follows: first, the supplier reduces the temperature of the heating medium at the intake. Then, in response to resident complaints, they insist the root causes are external factors.
"Heat losses within the building are used to disguise the substandard service, and the blame for insufficient heating is shifted onto the co-owners, even though the primary cause is the lowered parameters of the heating medium at the intake,"states Oleg Popenko. This situation causes significant concern among residents suffering in cold apartments while heating companies evade accountability for their actions.
This problem reflects a broader context of insufficient regulation and oversight in the utilities sector, which can lead to social tension. Public dissatisfaction is growing due to deteriorating living conditions, especially during winter. It is crucial for the relevant authorities to address these manipulations and take measures to ensure compliance with norms and improve the quality of heating supply.