Repairs and safety restrictions delayed heating season launch in some regions
Ukraine has launched 87% of its district heating facilities and thermal energy utility enterprises. System filling is currently underway, ensuring heat access for all consumers. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine (Ірина Гамерська) citing Serhii Koretskyi, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
Officials updated lawmakers on the heating season status during a government question hour in the Verkhovna Rada. Delays in starting heat delivery in specific settlements have clear technical and security reasons.
Regional authorities postponed the start of the heating period until normative weather temperature thresholds were reached. The process of filling the municipal distribution network continues.
Reasons for delays and billing procedures
Facilities that have not yet started heat delivery remain offline for two main reasons: final maintenance activities or security precautions to avoid drawing target attention from Russian forces.
“Where it is not working, it is purely a deliberate stance: either not to attract enemy attention, or repair works are being finalized. Every individual case has a specific explanation. The system is currently being filled, and absolutely everyone will have heating,” Koretskyi stated.
He also addressed potential utility bill waivers for citizens affected by shell damage to municipal heating infrastructure.
“Regarding non-charging of costs, this is one of the alternative backup options if destruction indeed occurs and we cannot restore service quickly. In that case, we may resort to such measures. But right now it is far too early to talk about it,” Koretskyi noted.
The government views billing suspension only as a contingency measure reserved for severe damage and prolonged service disruptions, noting there are currently no grounds to implement it.
Illustrative photo: P199 / CC BY-SA 4.0
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