Plans are underway to issue certificates to Russian households for the gasification of individual residential buildings. A report by a major newspaper indicates that the LDPR faction has drafted amendments to the law on gas supply in the Russian Federation, with a view to presenting the bill to the State Duma, as referenced in the document.
The explanatory note accompanying the draft law outlines how several regional governments already run programs to help certain groups of citizens cover part of the gasification costs through regional budgets. This practice is particularly common in large metropolitan areas and republics, including Moscow, the Moscow region, St. Petersburg, Leningrad region, Nizhny Novgorod, Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, and other areas across the country. The aim of these measures is to reduce the financial barriers for residents seeking to connect their homes to natural gas and to ease the transition from alternative energy sources.
According to the document, in many regions these subsidies or compensation payments are available only after customers have paid for the relevant services. The upfront costs of connecting gas equipment can range from around 70 thousand to as much as 400 thousand rubles, depending on regional conditions and the contractor chosen. The note emphasizes that these amounts pose a significant burden not only for low-income families but for a broader segment of the population facing a costly transition to gas.
The bill stresses that a critical obstacle is the shortage of funds for owners of residential buildings to carry out gasification before the actual work is completed. The proposed policy would allow access to the program for more people by issuing a certificate prior to the commencement of works, thereby reducing the initial financial hurdle and enabling earlier engagement with gasification projects.
The authors suggest that regional authorities should determine the denomination, procurement procedures, and the list of eligible categories of citizens for such assistance based on the costs of the services involved. This regional discretion would help tailor support to local market conditions and the specific financial realities faced by residents in different areas, while maintaining consistency with overarching national standards.
Earlier statements from analysts and officials noted that within the framework of the social gasification program, natural gas access connected roughly 1.2 million people over the past two years. This impact is presented as a key metric supporting the case for expanding the program and simplifying access to subsidies for a broader population of homeowners who are ready to pursue gasification but face upfront costs.
In related coverage, observers highlighted ongoing discussions about prioritizing the gas connections of households linked to participants in military operations, suggesting that faster connectivity for these homes remains a policy priority. This context underscores the broader legislative and social considerations driving the proposed amendments and the push to streamline access to subsidies for gasification across diverse regions and demographic groups.