Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- From 1 July 2024, legal entities in Uzbekistan will have to make 100% prepayment for electricity and gas. This is envisaged by the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers “On additional measures to introduce market mechanisms in the fuel and energy sector.”

The Government of Uzbekistan instructed Uzenergoinspektsiya, National Electric Grids and Khududgaztaminot to strengthen measures to identify cases of illegal use of natural gas and electricity.

The Ministry of Energy, the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Ministry of Economy and Finance will have to prepare proposals within two months to introduce fines against legal entities for the irrational (illegal) use of energy resources.

They were also instructed to prepare proposals for introducing an increasing coefficient to the established tariffs for the illegal use or theft of energy resources.

It should be recalled that from July 2017, a 100% prepayment for electricity and gas for legal entities has been in effect in Uzbekistan. In February 2019, the amount of advance payment for energy consumption for business was reduced to 50%.