In Russia, plans were outlined to create a mobile app that would allow residents to pay housing and communal services bills online, making payments simpler and faster. This perspective was shared by Dmitry Kuzmin, deputy chairman of the Federation Council regional policy committee, during a session focused on the digital transformation of construction, housing and utilities services within the Federation Council. The aim is to make bill payments more convenient for citizens and to support a nationwide move toward a single payment document across the country.
Kuzmin argued at the meeting that the new app should be capable of addressing a range of housing and utilities needs. He noted that the platform would not only handle basic payments but also integrate various service functions, including water distribution, apartment maintenance, and insurance-related tasks. The goal is to create a versatile digital tool that can tackle common issues in the housing and utilities sector while streamlining administrative processes for residents.
The discussion framed digital transformation as a core national development objective, with the construction industry playing a central role in advancing multiple digital platforms. This vision envisions a future where digital solutions support more efficient service delivery and better coordination across sectors involved in housing and utilities.
Leaders emphasized that digitization should begin with the already existing state information system for housing and utilities. While the system has shown potential, its current performance falls short of its full capabilities, and improvements are seen as a prerequisite for broader modernization efforts.
During the January discussions, officials from the construction ministry and related digital commerce authorities explored implementing a unified utility payment mechanism. A key recommendation highlighted the transition to electronic receipts within GIS housing and utilities services as a foundational step toward a streamlined, digital-first payment ecosystem.