According to 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," the press service of the Lutsk city council reported. The following tariffs have been established for city residents: 1) for thermal energy — 81.90 UAH per 1 Gcal, 2) for centralized heating — 56 kopecks per 1 sq.m of heated area during the inter-heating period, 1 UAH 16 kopecks during the heating period, for water heating — 3 UAH 60 kopecks per cubic meter. Previously, the tariff was year-round and amounted to 77 kopecks per 1 sq.m of heated area. For budgetary 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. Tariffs for heating cold water have also changed. From January 1, 2004, they will amount to 3.60 UAH per 1 cubic meter of water in buildings or apartments where hot water meters are installed, and 13.14 UAH per person per month where such meters are not installed. Previously, the tariff was respectively 3.29 UAH/cubic meter and 12 UAH per person per month. 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, with the average temperature in heated premises — above 18°C. The temperature of hot water 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 the event of a significant deviation (over 10%) of actual thermal energy consumption from the established norm, a recalculation of heating payment charges is carried out after the end of the financial year — in December. The enterprise "Lutskteplo" will not charge payment 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 the event of a decrease in the quality of heat supply services, the state communal enterprise "Lutskteplo" carries out recalculation of payments for services provided to the population in accordance with existing requirements. Thus, in the event of a violation of the hot water supply schedule, the payment for 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 temperature of hot water does not correspond to existing standards, 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 the event of a delay in the start or early end of the heating season, or interruptions in heat supply, the payment for the service 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.