The European Union’s energy experience offers Ukraine valuable insights, particularly in improving the interaction between household consumers and electricity suppliers.
One of the most promising approaches is the implementation of flexible payment models, especially through prepaid metering systems. This practice brings notable advantages for both consumers and suppliers.
Today, universal service suppliers (USS) — those obligated to provide electricity to the population regardless of payment discipline — often find themselves acting like “energy ATMs,” forced to deliver electricity even in the face of chronic non-payment.
But rather than just battling debt, Ukraine needs to build a new culture of energy consumption — one rooted in digital tools, smart policies, and equal conditions for all.
Currently, the system offers no real alternatives to the consumer: post-payment, growing debt, disconnections — but no flexible solutions.
Prepayment is a solution. It is a fair and modern tool that shifts energy consumption to a more responsible and balanced model.
Importantly, prepayment is not a punitive measure — it is a contemporary method of empowering consumers to manage their consumption with more control, flexibility, and predictability.
For proactive consumers, prepayment may even include the introduction of a special tariff — a discounted rate for those who choose prepayment and demonstrate payment discipline.
This approach supports the development of a mature, economically sound, and customer-oriented energy market, where the household consumer isn’t just a passive user but can choose the payment model that best suits their financial capabilities, lifestyle, or circumstances.
Discussions around household electricity tariffs in Ukraine too often focus only on the question of price increases. Meanwhile, alternative billing models like voluntary prepayment are rarely discussed — even though they could:
- Increase consumer responsibility
- Reduce household debt levels
The introduction of a prepaid electricity model offers a strategic opportunity to modernize Ukraine’s energy market, improve payment collection, and support consumer engagement.
Let’s stop forcing consumers into a corner. Let’s offer them real choices.
Let’s make the system fairer — together.