Uzbekistan recalculates unjustified utility debts for nearly 800,000 citizens
Following an inspection by the Competition Committee, 22 billion soums (about $1.8 million) in unjustified utility debts were recalculated in favour of citizens, restoring the rights of nearly 800,000 people. The main cause was that subscriber databases had not been updated.
Uzbekistan has recalculated utility charges that had been unjustifiably billed to citizens. Following an inspection by the Competition Committee in cooperation with other agencies, 22 billion soums (about $1.8 million) in unjustified debts were cancelled in favour of citizens.
How many citizens were covered
The recalculation restored the rights of nearly 800,000 citizens. The main problem concerned household waste-removal services: many citizens had been billed for addresses where they did not live or where no service was provided.
How it was discovered
The Competition Committee carried out large-scale studies and found that utility providers kept charging fees for vacant apartments and for people who had moved away, studied or worked abroad. The reason was that subscriber databases had not been updated to reflect residents' actual residency and migration status.
Other services
The inspection also found some discrepancies in drinking-water supply — including incorrect charges for a group of citizens without water meters — which were likewise corrected.
