Starting tomorrow - new rules: what will change for all meter owners.

Ukrainian consumers of utility services are receiving calls asking them to check their meters. According to the Cabinet of Ministers' decree No. 440, sealed meters, the verification term of which expired during the martial law, remain valid throughout the martial law period and for three months after its termination.

Previously, even with properly functioning water, gas, or electricity meters, utility companies could charge based on inflated norms if the homeowner did not have a verification document.

The situation was paradoxical. Citizens installed meters, saving resources and paying based on actual consumption. However, the lack of 'paper' certifying the inspection became the basis for calculating utility payments based on the norm, often using inflated coefficients, - industry experts note.

Decree No. 440 protects the rights of consumers during martial law. According to this document, utility companies have no right to unregister meters or charge based on the average monthly rate if the verification term expired during the martial law.

Utility companies in some regions have postponed meter verification on their own initiative to avoid burdening residents.

If the consumer wishes to conduct verification on their own initiative, it is not prohibited - they just need to contact the service provider with a corresponding request. However, after the martial law ends, all consumers whose verification terms have expired must conduct verification within three months.

Previously, Naftogaz of Ukraine announced the verification deadlines for different classes of gas meters.