The key facts

  • From November 1, 2026, heating and hot water tariffs are proposed to be raised by 30%; from May 1, 2028, they are to be indexed annually by inflation, but no more than 10%
  • In Tashkent, tariffs did not change from 2019 to 2024; in 2024 they rose by 15%, in 2025 — twice by 15%
  • The gap between cost price and the price for the population is covered by budget subsidies; by 2030, the cost price is planned to be reduced by at least 30–40%

Planned tariff increase

In Uzbekistan, a draft government resolution submitted for public discussion provides for a significant increase in tariffs for hot water and heat supply from November 1, 2026. From May 1, 2028, tariffs are planned to be indexed annually based on inflation, but by no more than 10% — under the same scheme applied to electricity and gas tariffs.

The authorities' explanation

The reasons for the changes were explained on October 15 at a press conference by Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Khurshid Mustafayev. According to him, in Tashkent tariffs for heat and hot water did not change from 2019 to 2024, although during this time prices for energy resources, wages and the cost of services grew. In 2024, tariffs were raised by 15%, in 2025 — twice by 15%, and for 2026 an increase of 30% is proposed.

The gap with cost price

Mustafayev noted that currently the gap between the cost price of heat supply and hot water services and the sales price for the population reaches fivefold. For legal entities, the tariff is closer to the cost price, for the population — noticeably lower, and the difference is covered by subsidies from the state budget. He also referred to international experience, pointing out that products sold below cost do not guarantee reliable provision of services.

Reducing cost price by 2030

According to a presidential resolution of March 11, 2025, by 2030 the reduced tariffs for the population for heat supply services are planned to be gradually brought to the level of cost price. The deputy minister emphasized that this cannot be achieved only by raising tariffs: annually a program is developed to reduce the cost price by at least 15%, and losses in heat supply are planned to be reduced through technical audit and a modernization program. According to his estimate, this will reduce the cost price by at least 30–40%.