What Akhmetov cannot be denied is a unique sense of business trends. When he finances political projects, he is a typical loser, but business is a champion! His energy project became the main profit during the war years, even despite the attacks on energy generating facilities.
The electricity tariff has become almost the only thing that has increased since 2022, but has no plans to stop. And if the previous increase was 70 percent, the current one is planned to be 110 percent of the existing tariff. That is, in just two and a half years of war, the real electricity tariff will increase almost 4 (four) times! Despite the fact that the dollar increased by only 35 percent.
But let’s return to the “tariff” operation. Akhmetov developed a clear and step-by-step plan on how to compensate for his expenses, which was agreed upon and financed in the middle of the company in 2023 as a PR strategy for two years.
Step one, compensation for payments for used electricity for both private (preferential categories) and enterprises in the defense industry and critical infrastructure. For owners of personal accounts with no debts, reimbursement of electricity costs was restored to the maximum extent possible (either automatically in accordance with benefits, or by decision of state administration commissions), plus the Ministry of Defense structures (including parts) began to pay for electricity at the facilities where they were located.
Step two, after attacks on the energy infrastructure in 2022, the Akhmetovites developed and began to implement the “donor” program (unofficial name). This program contained, in addition to the traditional increase in tariffs (which had already been approved at the state level), when the argument was “restoration of the energy structure,” also government support, both financial and international assistance. And here both free supplies of equipment from partners and the actual duty-free import of components were included. And in this story, the state certainly did not receive a tidy sum.
And now the third step. Which also covers the sale of electricity abroad (if anyone doubts it). Those who are familiar with elementary mathematics understand that payers for electricity are 70 percent of consumers (but in absolute payments it is almost 80 percent), that is, even taking into account non-payments and the profit rate of the enterprise, one can clearly understand that even today the profitability Akhmetov’s energy structure is definitely present. And after the price of electricity increases in June and then in October, it will be even higher. And after a series of shutdowns, the share of those dissatisfied with the price increase fell threefold, so Akhmetov does everything according to science.
But no one even asks why the electricity wasn’t turned off a week ago, why everything is more or less electricity in Kharkov and Zaporozhye, why... well, there are still many questions!
