The Ministry of Energy issued a statement clarifying that the ministry had not issued any orders to disconnect the stations. Similarly, the state-owned the Regional Electric Networks (Hududiy Elektr Tarmoqlari) denied responsibility, stating that only consumers with outstanding debts were being disconnected.
"Our stations are still not operating"
Companies in the charging station market have reached out to Kun.uz regarding the ongoing situation.
“It all began on December 9. Organizations affiliated with the Regional Electric Networks started disconnecting our stations across Tashkent. Currently, 24 of our stations are not operational and have been sealed. They cited outstanding electricity bills as the reason. Most of the stations are connected to the transformers of other facilities such as shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, and supermarkets. We have contracts with these facility owners, who, in turn, handle the electricity payments.
For example, we installed four stations at the Index Market. In this case, we are sub-consumers. We pay the market for the electricity we use. From this perspective, we have already made advance payments for the coming months. However, representatives of the Regional Electric Networks specifically disconnected only our station, while all other facilities at the market continue to have electricity. If there is a debt, the electricity should be cut off for the entire market, but they only sealed our meter.
The same happened with stations installed in the parking lots of restaurants. In such cases, the stations belong to the restaurant, and we provide maintenance. Advance payments for estimated electricity usage for the next month were also made. Yet, the electricians disconnected only the charging stations, while the restaurants continued to operate as usual.
Moreover, if smart meters are installed, wouldn’t the system automatically disconnect if the balance runs out?” said one company director in a conversation with Kun.uz.
The director added that unlike gasoline-powered cars, electric vehicles have no alternative energy source. Shutting down charging stations, especially during the winter months, creates serious inconveniences for drivers.
An employee of Megawatt Energy told Gazeta.uz that nearly 20 of their stations were disconnected early last week.
Demands for dismantling stations in Tashkent
Entrepreneurs operating in the electric vehicle charging sector may not only face power disconnections but also lose their stations entirely. Starting late last week, they began receiving letters from the Cadastre Agency demanding the dismantling of the stations.
