The cost of utilities has always been a hot topic in Ukraine. Although utility tariffs in our country remain among the lowest in Europe, household debts already amount to billions of hryvnias, and there is no tendency to reduce them. In the EU, the measures applied to non-payers are more severe: financial sanctions and disconnection from utilities are often used.
Ukraine has introduced a moratorium on raising tariffs for gas, hot water, and heating, which will be in effect during martial law and for another six months after its completion. However, this restriction does not apply to tariffs for electricity, cold water, garbage collection, and cleaning of the adjacent territory.
According to the State Statistics Service, in January 2025, the total cost of utilities increased by 19.1% compared to the same period in 2024. Electricity tariffs showed the most significant increase – 63%.
As of July 2024, 701,000 enforcement proceedings to recover debts for housing and communal services were registered in the Unified Register of Debtors, a 6.3% increase compared to the end of 2023.
The most significant number of debtors was registered in Dnipropetrovsk oblast – more than 100 thousand enforcement proceedings, which is 14.3% of the total. The Kharkiv region takes the second place (94.8 thousand), and the top three are closed by the Donetsk region (79.7 thousand). Most debts – 36.9% (258.8 thousand proceedings) – are for heating. This is followed by debts for water supply (18.6% or 130.2 thousand) and unpaid electricity (9.7% or 67.9 thousand).
According to the State Statistics Service, by the end of 2021, the population’s debt for utilities amounted to UAH 82.4 billion, having increased by UAH 7 billion over the year. As of February 2025, the average cost of utilities in Ukraine is UAH 3,703.
Cost of utilities in Europe
Electricity and gas tariffs for residential consumers vary significantly across European capitals. Electricity costs comprise a significant portion of household budgets: In 2023, electricity, gas, and other fuels accounted for 5.5% of total household expenditures in the EU.
As of January 3, 2025, the cost of electricity for end-users in European residential buildings ranged from 9.1 euro cents per kWh in Budapest to 40.4 euro cents per kWh in Berlin, while the EU average was 25.5 euro cents. In addition to Berlin, the cities with the highest electricity tariffs include Brussels (38.5 euro cents/kWh), Copenhagen (37.5 euro cents/kWh), London (36.8 euro cents/kWh), and Bern (36.4 euro cents/kWh).
The lowest electricity tariff was registered in Budapest (Hungary). This is followed by Kyiv (9.8 euro cents per kWh), Belgrade (Serbia) – 10.5 euro cents per kWh, and Podgorica (Montenegro) – 11.1 euro cents per kWh. In EU countries, gas prices for end users ranged from 2.5 euro cents per kWh in Budapest to 33.3 euro cents per kWh in Stockholm (Sweden), more than 13 times higher than the price in the Hungarian capital.
In addition to Stockholm, high gas tariffs were recorded in Amsterdam (Netherlands) – 18.3 euro cents/kWh, Bern (Switzerland) – 17.4 euro cents/kWh, and Rome (Italy) – 15 euro cents/kWh.
The lowest gas tariff among the five largest European economies was recorded in London (UK): 8.8 euro cents per kWh.
Utility arrears are severely punished in Europe, and the collection system is much more challenging than in our country. In the UK, Germany, and France, non-payment is punishable by water and electricity cut-offs, and fines can be significant.
