Uzbekistan's Ministry of Energy is raising prices to educate citizens

A representative of the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan linked the increase in energy tariffs to the need to encourage the population to be more mindful of electricity and gas consumption.

The agency's chief specialist, Elbek Saidov, stated on the UzReport TV YouTube channel that price increases are being considered as a tool for improving energy efficiency. He argued that the higher the cost of a resource, the more rationally people use it.

The ministry hopes the tariff change will help reduce wasteful electricity consumption. Specifically, this applies to the habit of leaving lights on during the day or leaving lights on in unoccupied rooms.

At the same time, the agency representative emphasized that the state does not aim to artificially limit energy consumption or impose strict limits on the population.

According to him, one of the reasons for revising the tariff policy was the rise in electricity consumption amid the country's rapid economic development and rising living standards. More and more households are using air conditioners and electric heating systems.

As Elbek Saidov noted, while electricity consumption in Uzbekistan amounted to 54 billion kilowatt-hours in 2017, by 2025 this figure had grown to 71 billion kilowatt-hours.

The ministry also noted the large-scale investments in modernizing energy infrastructure. According to the agency, tens of thousands of kilometers of electrical grids and transformers have been upgraded across the country. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to cover the costs of developing the industry solely from the state budget.

A Ministry of Energy representative cited China and other developed countries, where energy costs remain high, as examples. He stated that the careful and efficient use of electricity and gas in everyday life is one way to reduce the burden on the country's energy system.

The agency believes that rational energy consumption will allow it to more effectively cope with the growing demand for electricity as Uzbekistan continues to grow economically.