Conclusion

The final chapter provides a summing up of the book along with some speculation about the future development in this sector. In doing so it provides a description of some of the main issues that have arisen in the process of reform of the utilities sector. The chapter also raises a number of issues that need to be addressed looking forward, including the escalation in prices of many utilities services, environmental impacts, as well as the problems associated with economic regulation. Finally, this chapter reflects upon the manner in which reform of Australia’s utilities industries has taken place over the past three decades, and the implications this process may have for policy development and future reform more generally.

Creating an environmentally safe and reliable heat supply system through the introduction of energy-saving technologies in housing and common utilities services

The rational use of natural resources and the creation of an environmentally safety is a priority goal for all mankind. The increasing pollution of the atmospheric air by the combustion products of various types of fuel actualizes the problem of improving the environmental safety and efficiency of heat supply systems (HSS). Heating is the most energy intensive and wasteful sector of the national economy, because the turnover is comparable to 2.1% of GDP and an average of 50% in payment of citizens for housing and communal utility services (HCUS). However, HSS today is in a critical state at all stages of production, distribution and consumption of heat, which is especially typical for HCUS enterprises in Russia. Accordingly, the population is not satisfied with the quality and price of HCUS services. The purpose of the study was to develop a mechanism for creating an environmentally safe and reliable HSS by introducing energy-saving technologies that can improve the quality and reduce the price of HCUS services. The data analysis of the online survey of Russians in social networks in 2018-2019 is carried out. The average level of the population satisfaction with the quality of the provided services of HSS is determined.

Accounting and Analytical Support for Effective Control of Tariffs in the Sphere of Housing and Communal Services

The article highlights the problems of the zone in cost control and the main directions of accounting and control support in socially significant business, namely in housing and communal services. The necessity on the basis of an account resource a special approach to control the cost of tariffs in the modern housing sector aimed at a rational balance between opposing factors in pricing services is justified. The aspiration of housing sector profits, leading to higher tariffs, on the one hand, and social deterrent to the growth of prices of services, on the other hand, led to the authors’ proposal of a larger system of accounting for and control of the basic component of the tariff - the cost of utilities. The aim of maximum analytical accounting features in relation to the cost of production of housing and utilities services is reasoned.

On Housing and Utilities in the Context of Implementation of National Goals of Strategic Development in Russia

The presented study addresses the problems of accessibility of high-quality services provided by the housing and utilities system for the population from the perspective of achieving the strategic goals of creating a comfortable and safe environment, including those formulated as national objectives by the President of the Russian Federation.Aim. The study aims to determine trends in the funding of the housing and utilities system from the consolidated budget of Russian regions in comparison with the dynamics of paid services in the field of housing and utilities, and to identify approaches to solving the problems of accessibility of highquality services and reducing regional disparities in the provision of these services.Tasks. Through the example of the North-West macro-region, the authors examine the goals, objectives, and priorities in the housing and utilities sector reflected in regional socio-economic development strategies; identify the expenditure pattern of the consolidated budget of the North-West macro-region; determine the dynamics of expenses on housing and utilities from the consolidated budget of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation located within the North-West macro-region and paid services in this field; determine the amount and dynamics of unit expenses on housing and utilities from the regional consolidated budget and compare it with household expenditure; draw a conclusion regarding the directions for improving the accessibility of high-quality services provided by the housing and utilities system for the population.Methods. Based on the statistical analysis of the 2012–2018 dynamics of the structure and absolute amount of expenditure from the consolidated budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation located within the North-West macro-region and the dynamics of household expenditure on the paid services of the housing and utilities system, this study identifies the major trends and inter-regional imbalances in the funding of the housing and utilities system as a factor of realization of national priorities in ensuring a comfortable and safe environment.Results. The study shows that a number of problems persist in the regional housing and utilities systems despite the efforts made by the government, regional and municipal authorities. The constituent entities of the Russian Federation integrate guidelines for the development of this system in their socio-economic development strategies and prioritize increasing the accessibility and quality of housing and utilities services, which is reflected in regional socio-economic development strategies. One of the reasons for the persisting problems in regional housing and utilities systems and low accessibility of services for the population is the lack of a unified approach to the budgetary funding of this system. Different regions, particularly in the Russian North-West, exhibit multidirectional trends in the funding of the housing and utilities system and its support from the consolidated budget of the region. This generates and amplifies the differences between regions in the amount of budgetary funding of this system, creating unequal conditions for the population of the respective regions in terms of access to high-quality housing and utilities services. Thus, it becomes obvious that a more grounded regional budget policy is required — one that would make allowance for the existing imbalances in the funding of such services.Conclusions. To solve the identified problems, it is advisable to develop a more grounded regional budget policy that would make allowance for the existing imbalances in the funding of housing and utilities services. Mechanisms for overcoming the existing inequality of access to housing and utilities services for the population should be established not only during the development and adjustment of regional socio-economic development strategies, but also during the formation of strategy at the level of a federal district.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Residential and Utilities Services Organizations in Volgograd Region

The relevance of the study is determined by the implementation of housing reforms in Volgograd region and the need to assess their effectiveness. The object of the study is the public opinion about the current state of housing and communal services in Volgograd region. The purpose of the work is to identify the degree of satisfaction of citizens with tariffs and quality of services provided by property management companies. The methodology includes structural and statistical analysis as well as the synthesis of the results obtained from the formation of an objective and unambiguous assessment of the quality and tariffs of housing services in the region. The results obtained indicate a low level of satisfaction with the services of property management companies, herewith citizens are more dissatisfied with the level of price tariffs, while the level of satisfaction with the quality of housing and communal services is at a slightly higher level. According to the results of the study, possible directions for the improvement of the quality of services provided have been identified. The ways to reduce price tariffs by means of the optimization of funding sources by means of an effective mechanism development for public and private partnership have been suggested. In addition, the authors have determined that the control of the efficiency of residential and utilities services organizations should be transferred to the company presented by members of housing owners’ associations and other socially oriented non-profit organizations. The results of the study can be used to identify the priority areas for the improvement of housing and communal services in Volgograd region.

Defining the tariff burden when providing the housing and utilities services in Ukraine

The article is devoted to studying the impact of different social and economic indicators on defining the population’s tariff burden for housing and utilities services. The article analyzes the housing and utilities services provision system in Ukraine. It is noted that the majority of such companies are communally owned. The effect of different factors on defining the population’s tariff burden was found. The impact was studied, and the need for considering the organizational, economically oriented, and social factors when defining the housing and utilities services tariffs was substantiated. The housing and utilities services tariff policy system, the procedure of the tariffs’ structure developing, which is formed from economically reasonable costs of service provider’s operating and financial activity (full target prime cost) and part of income, were studied. The financial relationships between the housing and utilities companies with budgets of different levels, first of all with local budgets, and state target funds; financial and credit institutions, and insurance companies, etc. were analyzed.