29.01.2020
Energy sector of Ukraine: sociological dimensions
- According to the results of a survey conducted by the Sociological Group “Rating” during December 18–23, 2019, among the main utility services respondents are most satisfied with the quality of electricity supply services (76%), while 22% are dissatisfied. More than half of respondents are satisfied with gas supply, waste collection, and cold water supply services, while about one quarter are dissatisfied. One third of respondents are satisfied with the cleaning of adjacent territories, one quarter are dissatisfied, and more than one third do not use these services. Thirty percent are satisfied with heating supply, 22% are dissatisfied, and 45% do not use it. Only 17% are satisfied with hot water supply, the same share are dissatisfied, and 63% do not use it.
- Regarding the assessment of the cost of utility services, the situation is as follows: among service users, the most critical relative to income are the costs of heating supply, gas supply, and hot water supply. At least two thirds of those who use these services consider their cost to be high. As for electricity supply, half of respondents consider the price high, while about 40% assess the electricity price for households as average. A similar situation applies to cold water supply. The assessment of the cost of cleaning adjacent territories and waste collection is less critical: about 40% consider the price average, and one third consider it high. Cost assessments correlate with income level and age of respondents: the worse the material situation and the older the respondents, the more negatively service costs affect the household budget. At the same time, those who are more satisfied with service quality assess their cost more loyally.
- Only 12% of respondents consider Ukraine to be a fully energy-independent country. Half of respondents believe that Ukraine is partially dependent on other states in this matter, while 23% consider it fully dependent. This latter opinion is most common among the least affluent respondents and those who support joining the Customs Union with Russia. Over the past one and a half years, the share of those who state that Ukraine is fully energy independent has decreased (in July 2018 this share was 20%).
- One quarter of respondents believe that over the past year Ukraine has become more dependent on energy resources from other states, while 17% hold the opposite view. Forty percent believe that nothing has changed. In July 2018, one quarter believed that Ukraine was becoming more autonomous in energy. Regarding energy dependence on Russia, respondents’ opinions are distributed as follows: one quarter state that Ukraine has become more independent from the Russian Federation in the energy sector over the year, 34% believe that nothing has changed, while 24% speak about an increase in dependence. Compared to 2018, the share of those who believe that Ukraine is moving toward energy independence from Russia has decreased (in July 2018 it was 45%).
- Forty percent of respondents believe that Ukraine produces electricity independently, while almost the same share believe that the country produces part of its electricity independently and purchases part abroad. The situation with gas and petroleum products differs significantly: only 3–4% believe that Ukraine produces or extracts them independently. Regarding gas, 57% are convinced that Ukraine produces part of this energy resource independently and purchases part. As for petroleum products, 41% believe that Ukraine imports them, while 36% are convinced that Ukraine has its own production of petroleum products but purchases part abroad.
- Two thirds of respondents hold a positive-neutral position regarding Ukraine’s import of gas and petroleum products from European countries and Belarus. At the same time, every fourth to fifth respondent expresses objections on this issue. Attitudes toward gas imports from Russia are more critical: about 40% view this negatively, while about one quarter view it positively or neutrally. Negative attitudes toward imports from European countries prevail among residents of the East, older respondents, and lower-income groups. Regarding imports from Russia, negative attitudes prevail in the West of the country.
- The issue of electricity imports from other countries is perceived more critically by respondents. Despite the fact that a positive-neutral position toward imports from Europe and Belarus prevails overall (26–29% positive, 27–30% neutral), the share of critics is higher compared to the issue of gas or petroleum product imports (35–37%). Regarding electricity imports from Russia, 55% view this negatively. Only 18% assess it positively and 21% neutrally. More critical attitudes toward electricity imports from Europe are observed among residents of the South and East, and toward imports from Russia among residents of the Center and West.
- Almost two thirds of respondents do not support the decision to resume electricity imports from Russia, while 29% support it. This decision faced the strongest criticism among respondents from the West and Center. Among residents of the South and East, the decision was also perceived ambiguously.
- Sixty-five percent believe that the decision to resume electricity imports from Russia primarily benefits oligarchs. Only 11% believe it will benefit the population of Ukraine, and 8% believe it will benefit industrial enterprises.
- The assessment of energy imports from Russia from the perspective of national security divides respondents to some extent: about 40% consider it a threat, while nearly the same share do not. Regarding the purchase of energy resources from European countries, this idea is not perceived as a threat by the majority of the population (64%). Residents of the South and East of the country are more loyal to the issue of importing energy resources from the Russian Federation.
- From half to two thirds of respondents know nothing about the activities of key officials in the energy sector. Thus, 58% know nothing about the work of the Minister of Energy and Environmental Protection Oleksii Orzhel. Twenty percent assess his work negatively, 14% neutrally, and 3% positively. Fifty percent do not know about the Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Energy and Housing and Communal Services Andrii Herus. Twenty-seven percent assess his work negatively, 14% neutrally, and 3% positively. Fifty-nine percent do not know about the Head of the National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Public Utilities (NEURC) Valerii Tarasiuk. Twenty percent assess his activity negatively, 13% neutrally, and only 2% positively. Negative attitudes toward these officials prevail among representatives of the older age group.
Methodology
- Audience: residents of Ukraine aged 18 and older. The sample is representative in terms of age, gender, region, and settlement type.
- Total sample: 2000 respondents.
- Personal formalized interview (face-to-face).
- The margin of error does not exceed 2.2%.
- Period of the survey: 18-23 December, 2019
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