In accordance with Art. 28 of the Law "On Local Self-Government" and in connection with the significant rise in energy prices, the executive committee of the Lutsk City Council as of January 1, 2004 approved new tariffs for thermal energy, centralized heating and water heating services provided by the state communal enterprise "Lutskteplo." As reported by the press service of the Lutsk City Council, the following tariffs have been established for city residents: 1) for thermal energy — 81.90 UAH per 1 Gcal, 2) for centralized heating — per 1 sq.m of heated area during the non-heating period — 56 kopecks, during the heating period — 1 UAH 16 kopecks, for water heating — 3 UAH 60 kopecks per cubic meter. For budget institutions, the figures are respectively 81 UAH 90 kopecks, 1 UAH 72 kopecks and 3 UAH 73 kopecks. Other consumers will use the services of the communal enterprise "Lutskteplo" according to the following tariff plan: for thermal energy — 99 UAH 5 kopecks, for centralized heating — 2 UAH 8 kopecks, for water heating — 4 UAH 51 kopecks. Heat supply services for all categories of consumers except the population will be provided according to contracts. The city executive committee confirms the duration of the heating period — 184 days, while the air temperature must be at least 0.83°C above zero, the average temperature in heated premises — above 18°C. The hot water temperature must be not lower than +50°C and not more than — 60. The supply of hot water is guaranteed by the decision of the city executive committee from 6 to 24 hours. For the population, in case of significant deviation (over 10%) of actual heat energy consumption from the established one, a recalculation of heating payment charges is carried out after the end of the financial year — in December. The enterprise "Lutskteplo" will not charge for water heating in the absence of residents (treatment, study, military service, detention in places of deprivation of liberty, etc.) upon timely application by citizens and provision of relevant documents. If a consumer refuses to use the hot water supply service, the heat supply enterprise disconnects the apartment from the network. The consumer then reimburses the costs associated with this procedure. In case of deterioration in the quality of heat supply services, the state communal enterprise "Lutskteplo" carries out recalculation of payments to the population for services provided in accordance with existing requirements. Thus, in case of violation of the hot water supply schedule, the payment for water heating is reduced by 3.3% of the monthly payment for each day of exceeding the permissible deviation period. The latter constitutes no more than 30% of the total time of service provision according to the daily schedule (no more than twice a month). If the actual hot water temperature does not correspond to existing standards, the payment is charged at 90% at a temperature of 45-49°C, at 70% — at 40-44°C, and is not charged at all at a temperature below 40°C. However, a deviation period from the standards is allowed — no more than 5-15 minutes after opening the water tap. In case of delay in the start or early end of the heating season, interruptions in heat supply, the payment for service provision is reduced by 3.3% of the monthly payment for each day of exceeding the permissible deviation period. A 12-hour interruption per day is allowed (once a month) and three days (according to the schedule approved by the city executive committee) in discrepancies with the start and end of the heating season.