Ukraine’s National Commission for State Regulation in the Fields of Energy and Utilities (NKREKU) has advised the government to double household electricity prices starting June 1, according to Energororforma.
The proposal calls for amending the law to implement a uniform electricity price of 2.88 hryvnia per kilowatt-hour, removing any consumption-based differentiation and introducing the first stage of a single-rate tariff.
Currently, Ukrainians pay between 1.44 hryvnia (about 3.08 rubles) and 1.68 hryvnia (about 3.59 rubles) per kWh, depending on monthly usage. On April 25, the government extended the fixed price through the end of May.
Supporters of the tariff increase argue that the shift would strengthen the financial standing of state-owned companies Energoatom and Ukrhidroenergo.
A government source cited by Energororforma indicated that ministers are expected to back the proposal in the near term.
Last summer, President Volodymyr Zelensky imposed a moratorium on rising electricity bills for citizens during martial law, covering gas, heating, and hot water as well.
Earlier this spring, discussions about wage adjustments began. The move toward higher electricity tariffs became evident by the end of April. Volodymyr Kudrytsky, chairman of the board at Ukrenergo, noted earlier that more than 40% of Ukrainian energy facilities had sustained damage from Russian attacks.
According to a RIA Novosti report, NEURC calculations suggested that about 150 billion hryvnia would need to be drawn from the state budget to subsidize citizens without changing tariffs, though NEURC chief Konstantin Ushchapovsky had previously stated that repairing damaged infrastructure could cost 45–46 billion hryvnia, as reported on Rada TV.
Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko described the situation as a major challenge for protecting the grid and emphasized that a repair campaign is crucial to get through the upcoming heating season.
Deputy Energy Minister Farid Safarov added that failing to raise tariffs could jeopardize not only the restoration of the energy system but also preparedness for a potentially harsher winter. He also assured that vulnerable households would receive government support to cover bills.
Since October of the previous year, Russia has attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in retaliation for a terrorist strike that damaged the Crimean Bridge and disrupted power lines at the Kursk nuclear plant.
For instance, on May 22, Ukrenergo confirmed damage to 330–750 kW high-voltage lines in the Dnipro region after strikes. The damage forced the closure of a major regional power plant and several Ukrenergo substations, cutting power to residents in the Kiev-controlled Zaporizhzhia region.
In mid-May, Ukrenergo urged Ukrainians to curb energy use during morning and evening peaks.
“This year, thermal power plants and hydroelectric plants require extensive repairs. That means energy engineers depend on public cooperation to ease the system’s burden,” the company stated on its Telegram channel.
The agency also noted that a broad repair campaign would begin this summer, with preparations focused on ensuring the grid is ready for the upcoming heating season.