Water Tariffs Reduced in Abay Region — Semey Vodokanal to Refund Nearly 479 Million Tenge to Consumers

Water tariffs have been reduced in the Abay region, allowing nearly 479 million tenge to be refunded to consumers. The Department of the Committee for the Regulation of Natural Monopolies of the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the Abay region identified non-compliance with approved tariff estimates by Semey Vodokanal following an analysis of the 2024 report on the implementation of tariff estimates for water supply and wastewater services.

The inspection revealed that the unmet approved tariff estimate for water supply services amounted to 375,191.25 thousand tenge, and for wastewater services — 103,706.93 thousand tenge. The total amount of violations identified reached 478,898.18 thousand tenge, taking into account the base rate of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

To protect consumer rights and facilitate the refund of funds through the tariff regulation mechanism, orders No. 7-OD and No. 8-OD from February 11, 2026, temporarily approved a compensatory tariff for one year, effective from April 1, 2026.

The tariff for water supply services has been reduced by 11.78% — from 198.90 tenge per m³ to 175.48 tenge per m³. The tariff for wastewater services has been reduced by 7.08% — from 137.40 tenge per m³ to 127.67 tenge per m³. These measures will ensure the refund of funds to consumers in the Abay region.

Additionally, due to this issue, two cases of administrative violations have been initiated against Semey Vodokanal under part 4 of article 164 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Following the examination, the company was fined 13,840,000 tenge.

Because of Semey Vodokanal’s voluntary payment of 50% of the fine amount within seven days, the proceedings were conducted in an expedited manner in accordance with current legislation, and the paid fine amount was transferred to the state budget.

reported by ЖКХ24 with reference to the website of the Department of Energy and Housing and Communal Services of the Abay region.

Photo: gov.kz