Naftogaz is suing Mykolaivoblteploenergo and wants to seize accounts, Lohvinov says

«Naftogaz» is trying to seize the accounts of «Mykolaivoblteploenergo». Photo: press service of the company

The state-owned company «Naftogaz» has filed a lawsuit against «Mykolaivoblteploenergo» and is trying to seize its accounts, although the state itself owes the company more than a billion hryvnias in compensation for the difference in tariffs.

This is described in the article NikVesti: «This winter may be more difficult»: How Mykolaiv is preparing for the heating season».

According to Nikolay Lohvinov, the official debt of the state to the company for the difference in tariffs is about 1.1 billion hryvnias.

«This is an absurd situation: if we are prohibited from raising the tariff, and the state has undertaken to compensate for the difference, then just fulfil this obligation. Or at least don't let another government agency sue us,» said Mykola Lohvinov, the company's director.

He also reminded that the current tariff for households is 1,999 hryvnias per gigacalorie, while the economically justified tariff should be about 3,600 hryvnias. This is why the company accumulates debts every year, which the state promised to compensate.

The mechanism of the debt is as follows: since 2021, a memorandum has been in place, according to which tariffs for households are not being increased, and the difference between the economically justified cost of heat and the actual tariff should be compensated to the company by the state or local authorities. In 2022, the Mykolaiv City Council was still reimbursing these funds to Mykolaivobteplolenergo and CHP. However, after the start of the full-scale invasion, the government banned tariff changes, and they remained at the pre-war level.

At the same time, all tariff components — electricity, water, repair materials, and taxes — grew along with inflation.