The savings of Russians in paying for housing and communal services in the first half of 2020 amounted to about 6% compared to the same period last year. This was reported on August 9 by RIA Novosti with reference to a study by the Russian Standard Bank.
It is noted that its authors studied data on payments for utilities in the bank’s mobile application.
“The average bill of payment for one receipt has decreased by 6%. The average check of one payment for housing and communal services in the first half of the year amounted to 3125 rubles, while in the same period of 2019 it was 3337 rubles, ”the study says.
According to Elena Petrova, the bank’s development director, this may be due to the abnormally warm winter, as well as the ban against the background of the pandemic from charging fines and penalties for late payment of utilities.
In addition, the expert recalled that many Russians preferred to spend a period of self-isolation outside the city, in particular, at dachas, thereby reducing the consumption of water and electricity in their main place of residence.
On July 30, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced that Russia would simplify the procedure for obtaining subsidies for housing and communal services. So, from the beginning of next year, people will not need to receive a certificate of the absence of payment arrears, proving their right to a subsidy.