Apartment and detached-house owners can expect that public services will install and maintain smart water and heat meters. News reports indicate that housing and utilities workers are to handle the installation and upkeep of these devices as part of a broader modernization of meters in residential buildings.
For residents who repeatedly refuse public service access to their housing, administrative responsibility will be considered based on guidance from the Ministry of Construction to the government. This approach aims to ensure that essential metering services reach all homes while balancing residents’ rights with system-wide efficiency.
As previously noted, the implementation of smart devices is planned to be incorporated into housing and communal services tariffs. Responsibility for maintenance falls to the resource providers (RSOs). Officials explain that while payments for housing and communal services may rise by a few percentage points, households can conserve resources and gain long-term savings through improved metering and efficiency.
Recall that tariffs for housing and communal services in Russia were indexed starting December 1, 2022. Government decrees indicated that the maximum price increase across regions would not exceed 9 percent. The indexing schedule had initially targeted July 1, 2023, but the next tariff rise is now anticipated no earlier than July 1, 2024. Contractors and residents have observed shifts in spending patterns this year, with increases reported in housing and communal services, medicines and medical services, food, communications and the Internet, and household chemicals.
Reception of housing and community service workers to residences
Under current Russian law, entry into an apartment without the tenant’s consent is permitted only in cases of accident or when there is a threat to nearby lives. In all other circumstances, access must be granted through court proceedings. Experts emphasize that unblocked access is essential to maintain meters, ensure accurate readings, and uphold safety standards for all residents.
Concerns are frequently raised about living without gas or hot water for long periods because neighbors do not grant entry to welders or technicians. Industry voices argue that the owner should be obliged to provide access to the meter when necessary for maintenance or verification. If access is refused without a justified reason, fines tied to housing and communal services may be considered, provided a visit by a technician is warranted due to issues such as a broken meter or expired verification deadlines.
Implementing compulsory access for welding and metering work could raise concerns about fraud. The elderly may be particularly vulnerable to such risks. Analysts warn that distrust in housing and community service organizations, often stemming from mismanagement by management companies, can hinder necessary work. While most residents do not hinder technicians, a minority does, with estimates suggesting around 5 percent actively prohibiting entry. Some researchers suggest economic levers, such as adjusting tariffs to incentivize older meters to be replaced with smart ones, encouraging residents to call RSOs for service.
Earlier this year, a government decree changed the method for calculating payments for general household needs. Instead of using standard consumption, charges are now based on actual usage of utility resources. These changes took effect on September 1 of the previous year, and the first quarter of 2023 reflected recalculations to align with the new method. This shift underscores the move toward consumption-based billing and the role of accurate metering in fair billing for households across the country.