Irkutsk Oblast's Governor Asks Putin to Increase Electricity Prices
The governor of Irkutsk Oblast, Igor Kobzev, has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to increase electricity prices in the region. Kobzev said that the current prices are too low and are not covering the costs of electricity production. He also said that the increase in prices would help to attract investment in the region's electricity sector.The region relies on coal-fired power plants, making it vulnerable to price fluctuations. The region depends on coal-fired power plants, making it vulnerable to price fluctuations. Electricity prices in Irkutsk Oblast are among the lowest in Russia. A consumer survey by the Russian Energy Agency found that households in Irkutsk Oblast pay an average of 2.5 rubles per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for electricity, while businesses pay an average of 3.5 rubles per kWh.
Conversely, electricity prices in neighboring Krasnoyarsk Krai are significantly higher. Households in Krasnoyarsk Krai pay an average of 4.5 rubles per kWh for electricity, while businesses pay an average of 5.5 rubles per kWh. The higher prices in Krasnoyarsk Krai are due to the region's reliance on hydroelectric power, which is more expensive to generate than coal-fired power.
Kobzev has not specified the amount by which he wants to see electricity prices increased. However, he has said that he believes the increase should be significant enough to cover the costs of electricity production and to attract investment in the region's electricity sector.
The Russian government has not yet responded to Kobzev's request. However, the government has been considering increasing electricity prices in other regions of Russia. In 2021, the government increased electricity prices in the Far East by an average of 10%. The government said that the increase was necessary to cover the costs of electricity production and to attract investment in the region's electricity sector.
