Gas delivery comes at a cost. What will the bills look like in 2025, and will the rates increase?

As noted by lawyer Elena Voronkova, legislation mandates that consumers pay for gas delivery services regardless of the actual consumption volumes. Consequently, gas suppliers turn to the courts if residents have outstanding debts for fuel delivery.

"There is public dissatisfaction with this situation, both in terms of the developments and the amounts on the bills issued for payment. I must emphasize that the demands for payment of gas supply services, even in the absence of gas consumption, are quite legitimate," added Elena Voronkova from the Ivan Khomich law firm.

Gas Delivery Charges to Be Recalculated: When and What Will the Rates Be

Consumers in cities and towns will not see new rates in their gas bills, but they will still feel the impact indirectly.

"The gas distribution tariff is being recalculated according to a law signed by the president back in August 2022. Currently, the cost of gas distribution for the population will not rise, while the transit service fees of the Unified Gas Transportation System (GTS of Ukraine) increased as of January 1. This will not directly affect the utility bills of Ukrainians, but it will still impact family budgets. For instance, large thermal power plants also pay for the same gas transportation. Therefore, in this case, we will bear the consequences, as the cost of electricity will rise, which will directly affect our payments for everything—from food to services," noted Popenko.

It is important to note that the gas year does not coincide with the calendar year and lasts from October 1 to September 30. Starting January 1, 2025, Ukrainians will pay for the volume of gas they used from October 2023 until the end of September 2024.

Different regions of Ukraine have varying tariffs for gas delivery due to several factors, including the number of consumers.

Additionally, tariffs for gas delivery vary across different regions of Ukraine due to several factors, including the number of consumers: the larger the network and the fewer the consumers, the higher the tariff. This is why Kyiv, the most densely populated city, has the lowest tariff for residential consumers for gas delivery in Ukraine—0.38 UAH per cubic meter. In Volyn, for example, the distribution tariff is 1.88 UAH per cubic meter, while in Vinnytsia Oblast, it is 2.11 UAH/cubic meter. Detailed information about the distribution tariff is provided by local suppliers (distribution system operators—oblgas).

In January 2025, there were no significant changes in the gas market for residential consumers. The price of gas for residential consumers in Ukraine remains unchanged at least until the end of the current heating season.

The cost of one cubic meter of gas for the population within annual tariffs varies depending on the gas supply company, ranging from 7.79 to 9.99 UAH. The monthly (market) price fluctuates from 8.46 to 19.99 UAH per cubic meter.

• GC "Naftogaz of Ukraine" — the annual tariff is 7.96 UAH;
• "Energy Trade Group" — the base annual offer is 7.799 UAH;
• "Ternopiloblgas SBYT" — the annual tariff is 7.96 UAH;
• "Prykarpat Energo Trade" — the annual tariff is 7.98 UAH;
• "GALNAFTOGAZ CP OKKO CONTRACT" — the annual tariff is 7.99 UAH;
• "Lvivenergosbyt" — the annual tariff is 8.20 UAH;
• "Kyiv Energy Services" (YASNO) — the annual tariff is 8.46 UAH;
• "Dnipro Energy Services" (YASNO) — the annual tariff is 8.46 UAH.

Gas Delivery: How to Save on Service Payment with a Contract

Is there a way to avoid paying for gas delivery even with an active contract? This concerns residents who do not use fuel because they have moved abroad or are not living in a home connected to the gas network. Such consumers still receive regular bills for gas delivery.

"To avoid unnecessary overpayments, it is necessary to terminate the contracts for gas supply and, consequently, gas delivery to the consumer's property. However, it should be noted that upon the consumer's return, a series of actions will be needed to restore gas supply," says Elena Voronkova.

It is possible to avoid paying for gas with a contract through a court decision, but terminating the contract specifically for gas transportation is not feasible.

Thus, the only legal way to avoid paying for gas delivery is to completely refuse gas supply.

As explained by "Naftogaz," the process to refuse gas supply follows this algorithm:

• contact the gas distribution operator (oblgas or city gas) that you pay for delivery (distribution) of gas. They are responsible for accounting and billing for consumed fuel;
• submit a request to terminate the gas supply with the cancellation of the gas delivery (distribution) contract, or provide evidence of disconnection.

Then, the gas distribution operator provides residents with corrected data to GC "Naftogaz of Ukraine," and based on this data, the payment amount is recalculated, and any unjustified charges are canceled.

According to the lawyer, there is also an option to submit a request for temporary cessation of gas supply.

"However, this does not guarantee a positive resolution of the issue by the service provider. Legal proceedings to challenge charges made 'retroactively,' that is, after such charges have already been made, is definitely not a solution to this situation, except in very few cases," says Voronkova.

Oleg Popenko adds that it's possible to avoid paying for gas with a contract through a court ruling, but terminating the contract specifically for gas transportation is not possible.

The cost of gas for residential consumers in Ukraine will not change at least until the end of the heating season in 2025.

"Legally, this service is established, and we are obliged to pay for it, but through the court, it may be possible to prove that the gas delivery service is not provided in accordance with current legislation. And such judicial practice already exists. Currently, there are several court decisions in Poltava and Volyn that recognized the payments to relevant 'oblgas' as invalid due to the fact that the information they provide is not accurate... It is impossible to terminate the contract solely for gas delivery," Popenko explained.

As reported on the "Kyivgas" company website, the overall calculation of the cost of the natural gas distribution service for each consumer is carried out according to the following scheme: the volume of gas consumed in the previous gas year is divided by 12 months and multiplied by the tariff rate with VAT (20%) — 0.384 UAH. However, if the consumer did not use a single cubic meter during the previous year, they will pay for the so-called minimum consumption, which for apartments with gas stoves is 39 cubic meters. Thus, for the previous 2024 year, such a consumer in Kyiv, for example, must pay for gas delivery, according to the formula mentioned above, 1.25 UAH per month, while a consumer in Vinnytsia Oblast will pay 6.86 UAH per month or 82.32 UAH per year.