News · Oct 29, 2026
15% prepayment for gas and electricity: what cafés should do before 1 November
From 1 November 2026, businesses connected to ASKUE and ASKUG prepay 15% for electricity and gas instead of 100%. We explain the conditions, calculate how much cash stays in your business, and list five steps cafés should take before Friday, 30 October.
Presidential Decree PF-175 (UP-175) was signed on 27 August 2026. From 1 November, it cuts the monthly prepayment businesses make for electricity and gas from 100% to 15% (full text of the decree on lex.uz). The lower rate does not apply to everyone automatically. To qualify, a business must be connected to ASKUE and ASKUG, have a meter that can be switched off and on remotely, and have no payment violations in the last two months. 1 November falls on a Sunday, so the last working day to call your power company and Hududgaztaminot is Friday, 30 October.
What happened and what has changed
The idea of a lower prepayment came up at an open dialogue with entrepreneurs in Khorezm. The 15% figure was announced in Khiva on 18 August, and the decree was signed on 27 August (Spot). Business owners had complained that full prepayment ties up working capital. In the “what changes on 1 November” roundups published on 23–28 October, this rule is just one item among many. But for food service, where kitchens and refrigeration run on power and gas around the clock, it can make a real difference.
From 1 November, the decree changes three things:
- Prepayment drops to 15% of monthly consumption instead of 100%. This applies to businesses connected to ASKUE (electricity) and ASKUG (gas) that have a meter the supplier can switch off and on remotely.
- Written consumption reports are abolished. Businesses used to submit them to their local electricity and gas suppliers. This applies to the same ASKUE- and ASKUG-connected businesses, not to everyone.
- Contracts move online. Paper contracts for electricity and gas supply are being phased out (NUZ).
Who qualifies for 15%: the conditions
| Condition | What to check | Who to ask |
|---|---|---|
| ASKUE connection | Does your venue’s electricity meter send data to the system automatically? | Regional power company |
| ASKUG connection | Does your gas meter send data to the system? | Hududgaztaminot |
| Remote control | Can the supplier switch the meter off and on remotely? | Both suppliers |
| Payment discipline | Have there been any payment violations in the last two months? | Reconciliation statement from both suppliers |
Be careful: a “smart” meter on the wall does not mean your venue is connected to the system. Over the summer, Spot reported hundreds of thousands of household smart meters that were not sending data. No such figures exist for businesses, so it’s best to confirm your status with the supplier.
How much cash stays in your business: an example
The calculation below is simple arithmetic, not data from official sources. Take a 60-seat café in Tashkent with a winter utility bill of about UZS 20 million a month for electricity and gas.
| Utility | Monthly bill | 100% prepayment | 15% prepayment | Stays in your business |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | UZS 12 million | 12 million | 1.8 million | 10.2 million |
| Gas | UZS 8 million | 8 million | 1.2 million | 6.8 million |
| Total | UZS 20 million | 20 million | 3 million | 17 million |
This is not a saving: you’ll pay the same amount for utilities. What changes is when you pay. Instead of sitting with the supplier as an advance, UZS 17 million can go towards purchasing, payroll and preparing for New Year banquets in November and December. Check with your supplier what the calculation is based on: actual consumption or the contracted volume.
What to do before Friday, 30 October: 5 steps
- Call your power company and Hududgaztaminot. Ask whether your venue is connected to ASKUE and ASKUG and whether your meters can be switched off remotely. Note down your account number and the name of the person you spoke to. If the answer is no, find out who replaces the meter, how much it costs and how long it takes. Meter replacement terms for businesses have not been published.
- Clear any debts and request a reconciliation statement. You won’t qualify if there were payment violations in the last two months. Check both gas and electricity: it’s easy to miss a debt on one of them.
- Ask for a new prepayment calculation for November. Make sure it shows 15%, not 100%. If the supplier still bills 100%, ask for a written explanation of which condition of the decree you don’t meet.
- Get ready for the electronic contract. Ask your supplier how to re-sign the contract online. If you’re connected to ASKUE and ASKUG, remove paper consumption reports from your accounting routine.
- Update your cash flow for November–December. Build the freed-up amount into your plan and decide right away where it goes: seasonal stock, payroll or a reserve.
What not to do
- Don’t wait for an automatic recalculation if you’re not sure you’re connected. Without an ASKUE and ASKUG connection, the lower rate doesn’t apply.
- Don’t keep your account balance close to zero. A remotely controlled meter works both ways. In September, the power company in Bishkek announced it had remotely disconnected more than 5,000 customers for debts. For a kitchen on a Friday night, that means service stops.
- Don’t keep submitting paper reports out of habit if you’re connected to the metering systems: that requirement has been abolished.
Don’t forget the food waste rules
Beyond utilities, food service businesses must meet the food waste requirements of Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 589 of 16.09.2025. Restaurants and cafés need grease traps and treatment facilities, and venues that cook with gas, wood or coal also need smoke and odour filters. New customers can only be connected to the sewage system if they have local treatment facilities. We couldn’t find specific deadlines for existing venues in public sources, so check them against the full text of the resolution and estimate equipment costs in advance. Other inspection points are covered in “Tax inspections in food service: a checklist for cafés for autumn 2026”. For product labelling, read “Product labelling in food service after PF-175”.
How to keep utility payments under control
With a smaller prepayment, paying on time matters more: any payment violation can cost you the lower rate. AliPos Web gives you reports, inventory and finances, while AliPos Boss shows revenue, expenses and debts in real time. That makes it easier to see whether you have enough for the gas bill and how much is left after purchasing.
FAQ
Does the 15% rate apply to all cafés?
No. Only to businesses connected to ASKUE and ASKUG, with a remotely controlled meter and no payment violations in the last two months.
Do I need to submit an application?
The sources we found don’t describe an application process. The safest option is to call your supplier before 30 October and ask for a November prepayment calculation.
Are paper consumption reports abolished for everyone?
No. Based on the structure of the decree, this applies to businesses connected to ASKUE and ASKUG. Reports are submitted by the business, and those businesses no longer need to submit them.
What if the meter is registered to my landlord?
The sources we found don’t cover this case. Ask your supplier whose name the contract is in and who gets the lower rate. Talk to your landlord about connecting to the metering systems and how they’ll recalculate your share of the utility bills.
What happens if my account runs out of money?
A remotely controlled meter lets the supplier cut off supply remotely. Keep a buffer on your account that reflects your kitchen’s consumption.
If you’re planning how to use the freed-up cash this season, see how AliPos shows your venue’s revenue, expenses and debts. Pricing and a calculator are on the pricing page, and you can request a connection here.
