Or how “emergency assistance” turns into a business.
If an emergency occurs in the power system, then emergency assistance is the way out of the situation. But if emergency assistance is constantly involved, then this is no longer emergency assistance, but a business. And this is already an import of electricity, which is simply wrapped in an “emergency aid” package.
This is confirmed by the latest statement by Ukrenergo representative Kudrytsky, where he directly admits that “emergency assistance” is a consequence of the “unhealthy situation in the electricity market.”
Accordingly, the eternal version and the old record of Ukrenergo are thrown into the oven, that it is the population that is to blame for the shortage of emergency assistance, because it does not save electricity. Now “the legend has changed” and Kudrytsky from Ukrenergo is already talking about a business that simply has to pay more for electricity so that traders import electricity. Once again, business should pay not 7-8 UAH/kW as now after the July increase, but 10-11 UAH/kW.
“We need to slightly improve the regulation on the electricity market. Because it’s an unhealthy situation when Ukrenergo attracts emergency assistance from neighbors, which is more expensive, and commercial imports, which are cheaper, cannot enter the system due to price restrictions on the Ukrainian market,” says Kudrytsky.
I’m already silent that Kudritsky “misled Rams” and indicates to the supposedly independent regulator NEURC that it is necessary to reconsider prices for business, price caps (boundary prices).
At the same time, now the price caps (max 5600-7200 UAH/MW) are enough to, if necessary, conclude an agreement with companies from the EU and import electricity. A long-term contract, and not to buy it on the exchange “a little bit” for a lot of money.
So, unnoticed, Ukrenergo switched from the light to the dark side. Rinat Akhmetov's DTEK company has the greatest interest in importing electricity. Therefore, you don’t have to go far to see who Ukrenergo and Kudrytsky support. And this is clearly not the population, not Ukrainians, not the people, but simply private business. And this is the policy during war, but what will happen in peacetime?
In general, the story of constant “emergency assistance” raises many questions. There was no need to use this mechanism so often. In fact, market participants deliberately limited electricity production to create a “tragic picture” of a shortage in the energy system and attract “emergency assistance.” And in general, a small amount of electricity was supplied in the form of “emergency assistance” - approximately 8 million euros.
Thus, “emergency aid” became a tool for manipulation. Ukrenergo is traditionally distinguished by its flexible “party line”. Where the wind blows, the sails will be set there. But businesses need to prepare that price caps will increase and they will have to pay more for electricity - up to 10-11-12 UAH/kW. And it’s too early for the population to relax. Plans to increase tariffs for the population this year to 3.5-4 UAH/kW remain. As a result, people, as always, will pay twice - for more expensive goods and for light in the apartment.