Tyumen residents share shocking utility bills

In early February, residents of Tyumen began receiving their utility bills. Many were unpleasantly surprised by the figures reflected in them. We asked city residents to share the amounts they have to pay for these services.

«An apartment of 78 square meters. For heating alone, it»s six thousand rubles (about $67 at current rates), last year it was 3,700 (about $41),« says a Tyumen resident.

«I paid fifteen thousand rubles (about $167) for 70 square meters. Soon it will be easier to rent than to maintain your own. It»s infuriating,« writes a reader.

«For 11.8 square meters, the bill came to 3,877 rubles (about $43). There are meters. I might as well move out!» a Tyumen resident exclaims.

«For a four-room apartment, it came to 19,800 rubles (about $220). It»s like living with a mortgage,« says a city resident.

«It feels like I»m not living in my own apartment, but renting it. The bill is for 15 thousand rubles (about $167),« a reader notes.

Some compared the bills with previous months.

«I received a bill for 7,885 rubles (about $88) for a 35-square-meter apartment. In December, the payment was 5,728 rubles (about $64). That»s an increase of almost 2,200 rubles,« writes a Tyumen resident.

Another city resident says that in November he paid 10,700 rubles (about $119) for utilities, in December — 11,750 rubles (about $131), and this month he was billed more than 12,000 rubles (about $133).

The authorities, citing specialists from the Utility Systems and Tariffs Executive Committee (USTEC), explained the price increase by the cold weather.

«Due to abnormal frosts in the Tyumen region, the bills for January will differ from the previous month. 97.8% of apartment buildings in the region are equipped with metering devices. Smart technology continuously records the volume of gigacalories consumed. These data are divided proportionally among all owners of apartments and non-residential premises in the building. When the outdoor temperature drops, the building consumes more heat to maintain comfortable conditions,» the regional government said.

This year, the tariffs will increase once again — in October. We have collected the increases in utility payments for different districts of the region in a separate article.

Earlier, the authorities explained why the tariffs are being increased. We publish their response — see what our and your money will be spent on.