According to the spokesperson for Chelyabenergosbyt JSC, electricity distributor of Chelyabinsk, 25% more of housing bills were paid during the first working week of January as opposed to the beginning of December 2005.

The Housing Code states that the payment deadline be the tenth of the following month, but because of the holiday season dwellers were allowed to pay up to January 20th.

It is also in January that the new electricity tariffs are going to be introduced.

Kilowatt-hour rates will go up from 0.66 RUR in 2005 to 0.74 RUR for tenants in the houses equipped with stationary electric ranges. For other tenants, kilowatt-hour rates will rise from 0.9 to 1.04 RUR.

For people who documented their right to receive electricity from Chelyabenergosbyt JSC at reduced tariffs, the rates will remain the same.