Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.co,) -- Uzbekistan has introduced increased tariffs for electricity consumption by legal entities.

The company "Regional Electric Networks" reported that the introduction of higher tariffs for legal entities is stipulated in the new Rules for the Use of Electricity and Gas.

These rules were approved by a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers on 31 May and came into force on 10 June.

The main goal of the new rules is to organize economical and rational use of electricity by consumers, as noted by the company.

According to the document, legal entities set a limit on electricity consumption per month and make prepayments. In accordance with point 5 of the rules, consumers can submit proposals to the Regional Electric Networks companies to change the amount of electricity consumed, provided that the proposal is submitted 10 days before the start of the reporting month.

Previously, when exceeding the limit, legal entities paid 960 soums per kWh; now they will have to pay up to 1800 soums per kWh for excess consumption.

If a business does not set a limit, a double tariff applies when exceeding 100 kWh, as specified in the project’s technical specifications.

Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, in an interview with the channel "Uzbekistan 24" after a meeting with the president on May 30, discussed plans to introduce increased coefficients for electricity and gas consumption for legal entities. He noted that if gas or electricity consumption exceeds 10% of the allocated limit, a tariff twice the size will be applied to the excess volume, aiming to conserve energy resources and achieve maximum energy efficiency in the economy.

Economist Bekhzod Khoshimov, in an interview with Kun.uz, highlighted that the introduction of increased coefficients for electricity consumption is a mistaken decision. He emphasized that enterprises that grow and bring economic benefit naturally increase their energy consumption. Levying higher tariffs for energy consumption could be seen as a tax on the success of these enterprises.