UrBC, Yekaterinburg, May 22, 2017. Following Governor of Sverdlovsk Region Evgeny Kuivashev’s decree to this effect, more locals will get their expenses relating to switching their housing to natural gas supply subsidized by the constituency, the Governor’s Information Policy Department reports.

The decision was taken on May 19, following a video conference with mayors of towns in the area; the conference call participants talked about the existing natural gas supply network and its prospective extension. Sverdlovsk Region Social Policy Ministry now has to complete all the documentation by May 26.

The constituency currently only subsidizes low-income families and individuals when their housing gets connected to natural gas supply network. The subsidy normally amounts to around 35,000 RUR. As for retirees, their expenses used to be covered by Russia’s Pension Fund. However, the subsidies were discontinued on January 1, 2015.

‘I think it necessary to consider including more population groups in the eligible-for-subsidies list so that they can get financial support in the switching process. Also, we need stricter project documentation requirements. Connecting more buildings to natural gas supply network is about development, so we need to have a very clear picture of the project’s financial expediency, actual need for change, and the socioeconomic effects before it takes off,’ Kuivashev said.