All districts and cities of the region have allowed an increase in debt for consumed energy carriers since the beginning of the year, as of February 17. This was discussed today at a staff meeting in the regional state administration on the consideration of the issue of the state of payments for consumed energy carriers in January-February 2004. The largest increase in debt for consumed gas and electricity was allowed by Lutsk and Horokhiv districts and the cities of Lutsk and Kovel. The level of payments by consumers of the region for used electricity in January of the current year was 94%. The increase in debt for consumed electricity was 1.1 million UAH. The debt for consumed energy carriers of institutions and organizations financed from local budgets decreased by 1.5 times compared to the corresponding period of last year. The level of payments by the population for consumed electricity as of February 17 is 64%. Benefits and subsidies assigned to the population for payment of consumed electricity were financed by 129 and 121%, respectively. There is no debt for benefits and subsidies of the current year. The level of payments by consumers for natural gas was 62.1%. The population paid 87.3% of the cost of gas consumed in January and during the 17 days of February. Benefits and subsidies assigned to the population for payment of consumed natural gas were financed by 93.2 and 129.1%, respectively. The debt for January and the 17 days of February of the current year increased at municipal heat and power enterprises by 5 million UAH. As for compliance with the natural gas consumption limits brought to the region, in general for the region in January 2004 the overconsumption was 18.2 million cubic meters.