Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree to introduce new rates for electricity consumption in an attempt to ensure greater energy efficiency in households.
The norms will be gradually introduced in the regions before being adopted across the whole country from next year, Medvedev told the Cabinet on Monday, Vedomosti reported.
Families will pay less if they stay within the new limits, but those who use too much will have to pay a higher rate, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak, who oversees the utilities sector, said at the same meeting.
Energy consumption limits will be set by governors in each region, so 70 percent of the population fall within the norm, the report said.
The rates will be based on the number of family members in each household, said Natalya Nevmerzhitskaya, the chairwoman of an energy suppliers' partnership.
The government is now testing the project in seven regions, with the measure being implemented nationwide from July 1, 2014, Kozak said.
Officials also plan to set water consumption limits in several regions starting in 2014, with the move being introduced across Russia in 2015.
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