Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko announced that the government has concluded agreements with oil and electricity producers to institute a price freeze on gas and electricity at December levels, despite a rise in oil tariffs, Interfax reported.
The Energy Ministry will monitor price levels to ensure they do not rise above December levels, Shmatko said at a meeting on regional issues.
Shmatko said that "in March-April-June" the ministry will carry out work on a planned transition "of not using anticipated prices, or December prices" for electricity.
Oil companies will be barred from raising prices until after the presidential election in March, Kommersant FM reported Monday.