A 15% advance payment will be introduced for "exemplary consumers" of electricity and gas
The status of "exemplary consumer" of electricity and gas is being introduced in Uzbekistan. Companies with no debts or violations that are connected to metering systems will be able to make a prepayment of only 15% (100% is required for regular consumers), and pay the remaining amount in installments throughout the month.
A 15% Advance Payment Will Be Introduced for "Exemplary Consumers" of Electricity and Gas
In Uzbekistan, the status of "exemplary consumer" of electricity and natural gas is being introduced for businesses. This is provided for by amendments to the rules for using electricity and natural gas, approved by a presidential decree dated September 22.
Non-household consumers connected to automated metering systems and equipped with meters with remote control capabilities will be considered "exemplary."
Such consumers must have no overdue debts, no violations of the rules for using and metering energy resources, and no violations of payment discipline during the previous two months.
A separate payment procedure is being introduced for them: before the start of the billing month, it is sufficient to make an advance payment of at least 15% of the consumption volume stipulated by the contract, and the remaining amount can be paid in installments during the month.
The prepayment will be calculated automatically based on data from the metering and billing systems — there will be no need to apply separately for the status.
If the funds in the personal account run out and the supply of electricity or gas is automatically stopped, this will not be considered a violation of payment discipline.
At the same time, the status of "exemplary consumer" can be lost if overdue debt arises, if data exchange with the metering system is disrupted through the fault of the consumer, or if illegal use of energy resources is detected.
During an open dialogue with entrepreneurs in the Khorezm region on August 18, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the intention to reduce the mandatory prepayment for electricity and natural gas from 100% to 15% for some enterprises.
At that time, the head of state noted that the requirement for full prepayment for energy resources reduces the working capital of businesses. According to him, the management system in the energy sector must be restructured taking into account the current needs of entrepreneurs and their plans for the future.
The requirement for 100% prepayment for legal entities has been in effect since July 1, 2024. A similar procedure was applied from July 2017 to February 2019, after which the size of the mandatory advance was reduced to 50%. At the end of 2023, the Ministry of Energy explained the return to full prepayment by violations on the part of consumers, including unauthorized connections to networks and distortion of consumption data.
By the same decree, Uzbekistan changed the differentiated electricity tariffs for large consumers. From 9:00 to 17:00, a reduction coefficient will apply to them — the tariff will be 1.5 times lower. At night, the previous discount is canceled, and electricity will be paid at the regular tariff.