The key facts
- Average monthly electricity consumption per subscriber fell from 212 kWh (2023) to 184 kWh (2025), gas from 431 to 342 cubic meters.
- 30% of subscribers consuming over 200 kWh account for 71% of electricity consumption — the previous subsidies benefited wealthier families.
- Over a year and a half, about 470 thousand families received targeted compensation, with 156 billion soums allocated.
Energy consumption declined after tariff increases
Average monthly energy consumption per subscriber in Uzbekistan decreased in 2023–2025 following tariff increases. Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Khurshed Mustafayev announced this at a press conference on October 14. According to his data, the average monthly electricity consumption per subscriber fell from 212 kWh in 2023 to 184 kWh in 2025 — by 28 kWh, or about 13%. Natural gas consumption over the same period decreased from 431 to 342 cubic meters per subscriber — by 89 cubic meters, or almost 21%. “This means that, as a result of timely tariff reforms, the population is gradually beginning to realize this, moving toward savings and energy efficiency. A culture of energy consumption is forming among people. We consider this a very positive trend,” Mustafayev noted.
Why the approach to subsidization was changed
Deputy Director of the National Agency for Social Protection Jamshid Abruev explained the reasons for the transition from tariff-based subsidies to targeted support. Before the reforms, tariffs for the population had not changed for several years, despite rising energy costs and expenses of energy enterprises; the difference was covered by the budget and the enterprises themselves. According to Abruev, during the pandemic and economic recovery, this mechanism supported all consumers regardless of income, but later it became clear that households with high consumption benefited the most. “During the period of economic stabilization, under this mechanism, families with higher incomes who consume more benefited more. Low-income families, on the contrary, benefited less from it,” he explained. As an example, he cited the distribution of consumption: subscribers consuming more than 200 kWh make up 30% of the total number, but account for 71% of all electricity consumed. “It turns out that previously more subsidies went to the population with higher incomes,” Abruev stated.
Targeted support and current tariffs
The authorities decided to gradually move to differentiated tariffs and targeted compensation of expenses for families in need. For low-income households, a mechanism is in place to compensate the difference between the basic and increased tariffs for additional volumes of electricity and gas. According to Abruev, over a year and a half, about 470 thousand families used this support, with 156 billion soums allocated for compensation. Since May 1, 2024, Uzbekistan has had basic consumption norms and differentiated tariffs: 200 kWh of electricity per month, 500 cubic meters of gas during the heating season, and 100 cubic meters in other months. From June 1, 2026, tariffs were revised again: for most household consumers, the first 200 kWh cost 650 soums per 1 kWh, and the volume from 201 to 500 kWh costs 900 soums per 1 kWh. Gas within the basic norm costs 1,100 soums per cubic meter.
