The Economic Development Ministry is considering the option of freezing tariff increases on the services of natural monopolies both for industry and the population until July 1, 2012.
Deputy minister Andrei Klepach said the ministry worked out this option taking into consideration instructions resulting from a meeting hosted by First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov.
"The regulation time frame moves to July 1 and for all subsequent years," Klepach said.
Tariffs on electricity for the population could increase 6 percent as of July 1, 2012, 5.5 percent as of July 1, 2013, and 5 percent as of July 1, 2014. Previously, all options involved 10 percent growth as of Jan. 1, 2012 and 2013, and 12 percent as of Jan. 1, 2014.
