The plan to raise the price for connecting a private home to the power grid is now set to take effect on July 1, 2023. This update comes as part of a broader policy shift discussed by Valery Kovalev, who serves as the managing director of Urban Innovation Technologies. He explains that the change is being introduced in response to current economic conditions, and that it will affect households differently than commercial facilities.
Kovalev notes that tariff increases for power connections are not new. Last year, the cost to secure a preferential connection for electricity rose dramatically, jumping from 550 rubles to 3,000 rubles per kilowatt. In the current year, the cost is expected to rise by an additional 1,000 rubles. These figures illustrate a continuing trend toward higher upfront costs for households seeking to connect to the grid, even as the tariff structure itself remains labeled as preferential in some segments.
According to the forecasts, by July 1, 2023, a standard private home with a 15 kW connection could face a bill around 45,000 rubles. After this date, the price could climb to about 60,000 rubles, with another incremental increase anticipated in 2024 that would push the per-kilowatt price up by roughly 1,000 rubles. The shift reflects adjustments to tariffs in response to the broader economic landscape and electricity market dynamics.
Kovalev adds that while tariffs have risen, they still retain a preferential character in many tariff lines. The core message is clear: capitalizing on the lower-price window before July 1 could spare some households from higher charges. However, a caveat exists for those planning to connect commercial facilities, where the total costs can be substantially higher. The takeaway remains practical—plan ahead and consider timing to minimize upfront expenses for residential connections.
Industry observers from the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation and the National Energy Security Fund have weighed in on related developments. Igor Yushkov, a leading analyst at the National Energy Security Fund, notes that Gazprom and other gas companies have begun intensifying gasification efforts within Russia. With the domestic market identified as a primary focus, these shifts influence energy policy and the economics of household power connections, adding another layer to the evolving energy landscape. This broader context helps explain why tariff changes appear along a carefully managed timetable and how they interact with domestic gasification trends. In this sense, tariffs are part of a larger strategy to balance supply, infrastructure investment, and consumer affordability while aligning with national energy security goals.