The Odesa Executive Committee did not approve a water rate increase of more than double

The Executive Committee of the Odesa City Council did not support the proposal to raise rates for centralized water supply and wastewater services, and as a result, the decision was not adopted. Not a single member of the Executive Committee voted in favor of the relevant draft resolution.

This was announced during the meeting on July 23.

During the vote, 0 members of the Executive Committee voted “in favor,” 5 voted “against,” 5 abstained, and 4 did not participate in the vote. Thus, the motion to submit the proposal to adjust the rates to the Odesa City Administration for consideration did not pass.

Serhiy Lysak, head of the Odesa City Administration, attended the meeting. He stated that the tariff must be economically justified, but that its revision should not take place without resolving a number of fundamental issues.

According to Lysak, as a monopoly, “Infoksvodokanal” is obligated to provide municipal services with access to a revaluation of its entire property portfolio. Additionally, in his opinion, the rental rate must be reviewed in accordance with a decision adopted by the Odesa City Council in 2025.

According to the explanatory note to the draft resolution, the current rates have not been revised since February 2022 and were calculated based on 2021 prices. During this time, costs for electricity, fuel, water treatment chemicals, labor, and taxes have risen significantly. Expenses for restoring networks damaged by Russian shelling have also increased.

The draft proposed setting a water supply rate for residents at 38.39 UAH per cubic meter and a wastewater disposal rate at 30.69 UAH per cubic meter. The total cost of services was to be 69.08 UAH excluding VAT, or 82.90 UAH per cubic meter including tax. It was envisaged that residents and most commercial consumers would pay the same rate.

Back in February 2026, the Verkhovna Rada transferred the authority to set water rates to local governments. This provision will remain in effect until the end of martial law plus one year. Thus, the moratorium on price increases was lifted, and responsibility for setting rates was transferred to local councils.

Ірина Глухова