In Kyiv, the water rate was raised to 63.79 hryvnia
On Thursday, September 3, the Kyiv City Council voted to raise the rate for centralized water supply and sewer services for residents. Seventy-four council members voted in favor of the decision, and the new rate will be 63.79 hryvnias per cubic meter, up from the current 30.38 hryvnias.
On September 3, the Kyiv City Council approved a rate increase for centralized water supply and wastewater services for residents. Seventy-four council members voted in favor of the resolution. As a result, the cost per cubic meter of water for Kyiv residents will rise from 30.38 to 63.79 hryvnia. This is more than double the current rate. The increase applies specifically to centralized water supply and wastewater services. City officials explain that the rate has not been adjusted to reflect the company’s actual costs since before the war.
At the same time, Kyiv does not plan to immediately set the full economically justified cost of services. According to Kyivvodokanal’s calculations, it amounts to nearly 90 hryvnias per cubic meter. City officials describe the 63.79-hryvnia tariff as a compromise. It is to be set so that the utility can continue to operate and supply the city with water, without passing on the full actual cost of services to residents.
Why the decision was made to raise water rates
The Kyiv City Council explains the increase by noting that Kyivvodokanal’s expenses have risen significantly in recent years. This applies most notably to electricity, fuel, and chemicals used in water treatment. Petro Panteleev, deputy head of the Kyiv City State Administration, noted that during the full-scale war, the price of electricity has roughly tripled. The cost of fuel, he said, has doubled, and that of chemicals has also roughly tripled. “Until now, rates have remained at pre-war levels. During this time, electricity has tripled in price, fuel has doubled, and chemicals have tripled,” Panteleev said at a Kyiv City Council meeting.
He also drew attention to the salaries of water utility employees. According to the official, they remain among the lowest among employees of similar municipal utilities. City authorities emphasize that water supply is a round-the-clock system that cannot simply stop operating due to a lack of funds. The utility must pay for electricity, purchase chemicals, repair equipment, and maintain the water and sewer networks in working order.
Why the rate wasn’t raised immediately to 90 hryvnias
Nearly 90 hryvnias per cubic meter is not a new price for the public. This is an economically justified rate that takes into account the company’s actual costs. According to Panteleev, the authorities decided to raise the rate gradually. In the first stage, it was set at 63.79 hryvnias. “The increase must be gradual. Today, it’s up to 63 hryvnias, a level that was previously justified by the NEURC as the national regulator,” he explained.
Thus, Kyiv residents will not face a rate of nearly 90 hryvnias, which had previously been discussed during talks about the water utility’s financial situation. The city opted for a lower rate to partially offset the company’s rising costs. Panteleev also noted that if the utility incurs losses, the city may compensate for them using funds from the city budget. “If the utility incurs losses, they can be compensated from the city budget,” said the deputy head of the Kyiv City State Administration.
What Vitali Klitschko Said
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko called the rate increase a necessary decision. He emphasized that city authorities understand how sensitive people are to rising utility bills. According to Klitschko, water rates cannot remain at the old level if the company’s costs have risen significantly in the meantime. “We understand that people are struggling. But the water rate—at a time when electricity rates, fuel prices, and chemical costs have risen—cannot remain at the previous level,” the mayor stated.
At the same time, Klitschko emphasized that the city does not plan to set a fully economically justified price of nearly 90 hryvnias for residents. “We do not plan to introduce an economically justified rate for residents amounting to nearly 90 hryvnias. But we must at least bring it closer to a price that will allow the industry to keep operating,” he said. According to the mayor, the authorities’ goal is to ensure that “Kyivvodokanal” can continue to operate and supply Kyiv residents with water.
How much Kyiv residents used to pay
Prior to the adoption of the new decision, the total rate for centralized water supply and wastewater disposal was 30.38 hryvnias per cubic meter. Of this amount, 16.16 hryvnias covered water supply, and 14.22 hryvnias covered wastewater disposal. Both amounts already included VAT. Now, the total cost will be 63.79 hryvnia per cubic meter. This means that for every cubic meter used, Kyiv residents will pay 33.41 hryvnia more than before.
In percentage terms, the rate is increasing by approximately 110%. In effect, this means that the cost per cubic meter is more than doubling. However, the amount on the bill will depend on how much water a particular household consumes. The higher the consumption, the greater the difference between the old and new prices.
How the bill will change for families
City officials estimate that for an average family of three, the water bill could increase by approximately 200–300 hryvnias per month. The exact amount will depend on actual consumption. If a family uses little water, the difference will be smaller. If consumption is higher, the bill amount will increase accordingly.
For example, if a family uses 5 cubic meters of water per month, the cost under the old rate is about 152 hryvnias. At the new price of 63.79 hryvnias per cubic meter, the same amount of water will cost approximately 319 hryvnias. If consumption is 10 cubic meters, the cost under the old rate is about 304 hryvnias, and under the new rate—almost 638 hryvnias. Note that this covers only the cost of water consumption and wastewater disposal. The total bill may include other charges, such as a subscription fee.
Why the city is talking about the water utility’s survival
“Kyivvodokanal” operates a vast system that includes water supply and sewer networks, pumping stations, treatment plants, and other equipment. All of this requires constant maintenance. Even when there are no new major breakdowns, the company must regularly repair the networks and replace equipment that wears out.
The war also creates specific challenges. Russian attacks on energy infrastructure can affect the stability of utility operations. Therefore, the water utility needs resources not only for routine operations but also to respond to emergencies. City officials believe that maintaining the old rate amid a sharp rise in costs could worsen the company’s financial situation. In the long run, this could make it more difficult to carry out repairs and infrastructure upgrades. This is precisely why the Kyiv City Council cites the need to raise rates now.
Will the rate increase further?
Currently, the Kyiv City Council has approved a rate of 63.79 hryvnia per cubic meter. At the same time, city officials are discussing the possibility of compensating “Kyivvodokanal” for its losses from the city budget. This means that the current decision should not be interpreted as automatically setting the rate at 90 hryvnia in the future. Such an increase would require a separate decision and corresponding calculations.
City officials currently state that their goal is to keep the company operational and not to pass on the entire economically justified cost of the service to residents. At the same time, for Kyiv residents, the new price will still represent a significant increase. Compared to the previous rate, water and wastewater services will cost more than twice as much. Thus, the main change following the Kyiv City Council vote is an increase from 30.38 hryvnias per cubic meter to 63.79 hryvnias. The city calls this a necessary measure due to rising resource costs and the need to ensure the stable operation of the water utility. This was reported by the Kyiv City State Administration.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated the need to revise rates for centralized water supply and wastewater services. According to him, a wave of rate changes for water utility services is being observed across all regions of Ukraine, as the industry has been pushed to the brink of shutdown due to rising prices for electricity, fuel, and chemical reagents.
