Residents of Makhachkala complained about rising expenses due to the increase in utility tariffs.
The upcoming increase in electricity and water tariffs will significantly raise the expenses of families and pensioners, residents of Dagestan reported. They complained about the high share of utility payments in the family budget and demanded an explanation for the reasons behind the tariff increase.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", earlier the authorities of Dagestan announced that the electricity tariff in the republic will increase by 11.3% starting from October 1. Residents of Dagestan, commenting on the announcement of the tariff increase on social media, complained about rising expenses against the backdrop of low salaries and pensions, and also pointed out regular power outages.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Tariffs of Dagestan, starting from October 1 of this year, the electricity tariff for the population of the republic will increase by 11.3%. "For residents of rural areas, as well as urban houses equipped with electric stoves and electric heating systems, the tariff will be 3.12 rubles per 1 kW·h," the ministry reported on September 17, RBC stated.
A resident of Makhachkala, Zumrud, complained that the increase in utility tariffs will noticeably raise her family's expenses with two children, where only one person works.
"In our family, where only my husband works, we have two children. We pay about 7,000 rubles a month for utilities. Now it will be about 10,000. For us, this is a significant increase. Why is it that in Dagestan they decided to raise tariffs to the maximum, while this is not the case in other regions?" she told the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".
A resident of Kizilyurt, Kamil, noted the upcoming increase in water fees.
"Why will the water tariff in Kizilyurt double, is the water made of gold? We have a main water pipeline nearby, from which water flows into the city," he told the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".
The increase in utility expenses is especially felt by lonely pensioners, noted Maria Sergeevna, who lives in Makhachkala.
"I live alone, I pay about four thousand for utilities, now it will be even more expensive. For my small pension, this is already a lot, and now it will be even more. Fortunately, my children help, otherwise I wouldn't know what to do," she complained to the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".
The reasons for the tariff increase remain unclear to consumers, and the payment for utility services is further complicated by the need to visit the cash desks of different providers, pointed out an entrepreneur from Makhachkala, Kazbek.
"Dagestan, as always, decided to be ahead of everyone in price increases. Why specifically no one has justified or shown people what is causing this increase? There is also another problem. It is practically impossible to pay for utility services online, you have to go to cash desks, where they also add service fees when paying. Moreover, each service provider is located in different areas of the city, which creates many problems, especially for elderly people," he told the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot".
"Caucasian Knot" also reported that the increase in utility tariffs in Dagestan has previously caused complaints from local residents about rising expenses. For example, on June 12, 2025, blogger Rasul (Asad) Maazov pointed out that low tariffs lose their meaning amid regular interruptions in utility services, and raised the question of the purposes for which the additional revenue is directed.
On March 22, 2024, the deputy head of the Dagestan Union of Trade Unions, Maxim Gasanov, stated that the multiple increase in the water tariff increases business expenses, and the deputy general director of the company "Global-M", Felix Aliev, warned that these costs will be included in the production cost.