Grozny starts raids aimed to reveal utility debtors

Since March 14 on, employees of the "Chechkommunenergo" Company began large-scale raids aimed to identify malicious utility bill debtors. Local residents find their actions illegitimate.

"In Grozny, new raids have been launched to identify utility debtors. In some cases, consumers have failed to pay for electricity for four or five years, and, despite repeated warnings, wouldn't pay. Many just don't open the doors of their apartments or gates of their houses, when utility inspectors come," the "Chechkommunenergo" says.

According to the company, repeated warnings and electricity disconnections have poor effect on the vast majority of debtors.

Local people themselves are extremely negative to the actions of municipal officials. They believe that utility tariffs are clearly too high in the republic, while the quality of services fails to meet the tariffs.

"We have such checks almost every month; and every time different people come and demand to repay utility debts; however, nobody worries about the fact that the owner of the house or apartment is unable to do it, because he or she is not paid his or her salary for several months salary," says Movsar R., a resident of Grozny.

"Despite the fact that we have very frequent power outages, hence, water supply outages either, utility services want people to pay for a full month; even if an outage lasts for a few days or a week. Those who are dissatisfied are advised to install meters, but people have to pay for that. Where should a pensioner, who receives about seven thousand roubles a month, take the money?" asked Ramzan B., another resident of the Chechen capital.