TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, June 6. In an effort to soften the blow of energy tariff reforms for those struggling to make ends meet, the Uzbek government extended a lifeline through one-time financial assistance and compensation payments, amounting to around $26.1 million during the heating season of 2024–2025, Trend reports.
In November 2024, the National Agency for Social Protection distributed a total of 290 billion soms ($24.2 million) through the Unified Social Protection Registry to 1.1 million families. Each family received a one-time payment of 270,000 soms ($22.50). This aid covered 950,000 families officially registered in the social protection system, plus an additional 15 percent of families from mahallas (local communities).
Moreover, during the heating season from December 2024 to April 2025, compensation payments totaling 23.3 billion soms ($1.9 million) were allocated to 207,962 families. These payments covered the difference between basic and above-basic tariffs for natural gas and electricity consumption.
The regions receiving the largest shares of financial support include:
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Fergana Region: 40.6 billion soms ($3.4 million)
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Kashkadarya Region: 37.3 billion soms ($3.1 million)
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Namangan Region: 35.2 billion soms ($2.9 million)
The implementation of these socio-economic support mechanisms is designed to mitigate domestic expenditure associated with electrical and natural gas consumption, thereby alleviating the fiscal strain on at-risk households throughout the winter season.
