Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk appealed to the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine and the National Commission for State Regulation in Energy and Public Utilities (NERC) with a demand to fix fines for those district heating companies that had failed to turn off heating and used gas inefficiently, "However, no copeck of this fine should be included in the bills that people pay", the PM stressed at a Government meeting on Wednesday, April 15.

The Head of Government reminded that pursuant to the law municipalities and local authorities are responsible for making decisions to switch off heating in flats.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk reminded that the previous month he had addressed local authorities to adopt a decision to lower the temperature of a coolant to "economize not just in words, but in action": "It is impossible with 20 degrees above zero outside to make people open the windows as the heating enterprises continue to intentionally burn gas to increase people’s bills."

He appealed to mayors of cities: "You were elected by the people. You are well aware that gas is expensive, rates are high. Why weren’t decisions taken to stop heating homes when temperature regimes have turned into plus regime?"

"In Kyiv alone every 10 seconds there is being burned average salary of Ukraine’s citizen", stressed the Prime Minister.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk appealed to the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine and the National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Public Utilities: “It shouldn’t be that way. If someone wants to burn gas when it is hot outside - just fine district heating companies. Fix for them a separate rate containing a penalty for inefficient gas use. But not a single copeck of this fine should be included in the bills for the population".