DISINFO: Millions of poor Ukrainians will be left without gas in 2021
SUMMARY
Millions of Ukrainians may be left without gas in 2021. Almost three million Ukrainian consumers who do not have a gas meter are at risk of being cut off. From 1 January 2021 in Ukraine, in accordance with the law “on ensuring commercial metering of natural gas,” disconnections to consumers may begin. First of all, the blow will fall on the most vulnerable segments of the population: pensioners and low-income citizens who do not have the financial ability to pay for the installation of a gas meter.
RESPONSE
This is a scare-story which manipulates the truth. The law "On ensuring commercial metering of natural gas" was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine back in 2017, and the document does comes into force in January 2021. Thus, the Ukrainian government gave Ukrainians and gas companies four years to prepare for the implementation of the law. Ukrainian gas companies and operators of gas distribution networks constantly warn their customers about the possibility of disconnecting from the gas supply if meters do not appear in their apartments and houses before the specified time. Moreover, the law states that the consumer does not need to pay for the installation of gas meters in apartments, for Ukrainians this service is free - all costs are borne by the state. In addition, if the consumer does not have a meter installed by January, they will not be immediately disconnected from the gas supply. First, such a consumer will be transferred to a different gas tariff, which is higher than the existing rate for the population. Only after such measures can the consumer can be disconnected from the gas network. Read similar case claims that In Ukraine, pensioners freeze without Russian gas.