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Russia Sets 2026 Caps on Utility Bills in Two Stages

The directive tasks the antimonopoly watchdog with enforcing the limits and highlights targeted subsidies for households facing heavy utility costs.

Overview

  • From January 1, 2026, a uniform average cap of 1.7% on household utility bills applies across all regions.
  • From October 1, 2026, indexation limits become region-specific, with examples including Moscow at 15%, St. Petersburg at 14.6%, and Stavropol Krai at 22%.
  • Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed the order, and the Federal Antimonopoly Service says the measure supports system stability and will monitor compliance.
  • The mechanism caps the increase of the total monthly bill rather than individual services, with regional leaders setting municipal indices within federally approved parameters.
  • Coverage notes conflicting wording on whether municipalities may deviate from regional limits, and a regional official tied the January rise to the VAT rate increase to 22% approved for 2026.