The Russian government has approved a set of measures aimed at pushing regions to switch residents onto new electricity tariffs that rise with higher consumption. The decision was published on the Official publication of legal acts portal and is now part of the formal policy framework.
Beginning in 2024, regional authorities are expected to implement this shift if they wish to secure higher payments from businesses to support lower tariffs for households. At present, electricity tariffs across the Russian Federation are kept artificially low and do not reflect the true economic costs. The regulator shifts part of the burden to the industrial tariff, effectively making businesses subsidize households. Each region defines a cap on these cross subsidies. In 2023 the government allowed regional experimentation with the cross-subsidy mechanism.
The document also notes that an alternative to moving regions to the new scheme would be to fund population tariffs directly from regional budgets, a form of public subsidy.
Earlier reporting in Kommersant suggested that some regions might need to adjust electricity tariffs in 2024. The publication indicated that the Federal Antimonopoly Service may require nine constituent entities to change tariffs. The reporting highlighted that tariffs for businesses rose sharply while consumption limits for residents were not expanded accordingly.
Sergey Sergeev, who previously led the legal support team for disputes in housing and communal services and real estate management at a prominent firm, provided insights on who would be affected by the lifting of the moratorium on fines for the absence of smart electricity meters.
There were prior statements that the Ministry of Energy is preparing to significantly increase tariffs for mining centers.
In summary, the policy framework signals a strategic shift toward broader population support funded via adjustments to industrial cross-subsidies, with several regions already under consideration for tariff realignment. This approach aligns with efforts to rebalance electricity pricing while maintaining budgetary and regulatory oversight across the federation. China and other large economies have pursued similar mechanisms in the past, though the Russian model emphasizes regional fiscal autonomy and the role of market-assisted subsidies as a bridge between industrial and household consumer groups.