The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has introduced to Verkhovna Rada a new draft law on introduction of amendments to the Law on Natural Gas Market. The corresponding draft law №3325 was registered in the Rada on October 15, RBC-Ukraine (РБК-Украина) reports.

Thus, it is proposed by the document to envisage the possibility of paid use of gas distribution systems. In particular, according to the law the state-owned gas distribution systems are assigned for use to the business entity of the public sector of the economy, determined by government decision for further assignment for use to operators of gas distribution systems exclusively under terms of concession, lease or other paid use.

It is stipulated by the draft law in the Law on Housing and Utility Services – to remove qualification of natural gas supplies as housing and utility services in connection with significant change of access to natural gas regulation and to ensure transition from “guaranteed supplier” to “natural gas supplier with special duties”, and to introduce necessary changes to calculations of heat producing and supplying companies for consumed natural gas.

The Cabinet of Ministers proposes to reschedule installation of gas meters for cooking to 1 April 2017 and envisage the competitive environment for contractors of gas meters, toughening of sanctions for non-installation of gas meters by responsible entities, prediction of creation of the unified database of clients of natural gas, which is critically needed for complete accounting of gas consumption in Ukraine, and creation of conditions for realization of consumer rights for change of the supplier.

In addition, the government proposes to envisage a free installation of energy-saving equipment with gas consumption at the expense of funds of state budget, special energy-saving fund etc. for financially disadvantaged citizens, who obtain subsidies for payment of consumed gas and use outdated equipment with gas consumption until 31 December 2017.