Heating season in Odesa: how CHPs and utilities are preparing for frost

The heating season in Odesa is expected to start on November 10. The final date will be determined depending on weather conditions.

This and other issues were discussed at a meeting of the Odesa City Council's Standing Committee on Housing and Utilities.

The meeting was attended by heads of district administrations and utility companies. They discussed the city's readiness for the heating season, the situation in the energy sector and measures to prepare for winter.

It was emphasized that after six massive Russian attacks on the country's energy system, restoration work is underway, but the process will take time. Emergency power outages have already been imposed in Ukraine and in Odesa region in particular due to damage to the grid.

MPs emphasized the importance of saving resources, both electricity and gas. From November 1 to March 31, Ukraine will have a preferential gas price for households set by the Cabinet of Ministers. According to forecasts, gas reserves should be enough for the heating season, unless there is a sharp cold snap.

SCREEN SHOT: Odesa City Council/youtube

According to Odesa CHP, the enterprises are ready to start supplying heat. At the same time, some private management companies and condominiums delay the issuance of readiness certificates every year or fail to conclude contracts with Naftogaz, which may leave some homes without heating.

According to the commission, the Ministry of Energy recommended that residents have backup power sources - generators and fuel for at least three days.

Utilities are also preparing for the winter period. The City Roads utility company reported that its vehicles are being transferred to winter maintenance, and that they will be on round-the-clock duty starting December 1. There are enough supplies of reagents, and they will be purchased if necessary.

Miskzelentrest has prepared 57 cubic meters of firewood and continues to procure it. The heads of the districts were urged to contact the company in case of emergencies. The Department of Municipal Security was instructed to check 151 emergency points and to man them as needed.

The chairman of the commission emphasized that after the creation of the Odesa City Military Administration, the format of work will change: decisions will have to be made faster, and responsibility for winterization will now be shared.

In addition, the deputies reviewed the implementation of decisions on the lease of a part of the main sewage system, the procedure for calculating heat bills for the Odesa Charity Association, the work of the supervisory board of the Odesa City Heat Supply Utility, the installation of telecommunications networks on the facades of residential buildings, and the project to transfer a state-owned apartment to the city's communal property.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine set the start of the heating season for November 1, but the Ministry of Energy assured that this would not change anything for the population. Hanna Poznyakova, Deputy Mayor of Odesa, explained that if condominiums or buildings with roof boilers supply heat earlier, residents will not receive government benefits and subsidies during this time. Payments apply only to the officially established season.

Анна Бальчінос