Energy Club Appeals to the Ministry of Energy Regarding Fines for Special-Purpose Vehicles Used in Emergency Repairs

31.07.2025

The Energy Club business community has sent an official letter to the Minister of Energy of Ukraine, Svitlana Grynchuk, calling for a government-level resolution to the systemic problem of fining the special-purpose vehicles of Distribution System Operators (DSOs) for exceeding size and weight limits during emergency repairs. The appeal emphasizes that this problem creates critical obstacles to restoring the electricity supply, especially in frontline regions.

The Core of the Problem

In wartime conditions, energy workers’ emergency crews, en route to eliminate damage to power grids caused by enemy shelling, face systemic fines for their special-purpose vehicles (cranes, aerial platforms). The current Clause 22.5 of the Traffic Rules provides exemptions for the vehicles of the State Emergency Service (SES) and for defense purposes, but similar privileges are absent for energy workers, whose job is no less critical for the life support of communities.

According to data collected by the Energy Club from a number of DSOs, the problem is systemic and has specific negative consequences:

• Direct Financial Losses: JSC “Sumyoblenergo” reported five fines totaling UAH 170,000. JSC “Cherkasyoblenergo” received a fine of UAH 17,000 for a crane that was building a protective shelter for transformers. Attempts to appeal the fines in court have been futile.
• Critical Delays: The procedure for obtaining an official permit for the passage of special-purpose vehicles takes 10 to 15 business days, making a rapid operational response to emergencies impossible.
• Additional Bureaucracy: Energy workers also face requirements to install tachographs on special-purpose vehicles that do not perform long-haul transportation, and deal with the incorrect classification of oil trucks.

It is important to note that the entire industry is united in its position. Even those DSOs that are not currently facing the problem acutely (JSC “Mykolaivoblenergo,” VSC “Ternopiloblenergo”) have supported the need for legislative changes.

Energy Club’s Proposal

In its appeal the Energy Club asks the Minister of Energy to support the initiative to amend the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Resolution No. 1306.

It is proposed to supplement Clause 22.5 of the Traffic Rules with an exemption for “specialized and/or special-purpose vehicles used by distribution system operators during the performance of emergency and restoration work.”

The Energy Club has expressed its readiness to provide all collected analytics and to actively participate in working groups to find the quickest possible solution to this problem, which is critical for the country’s energy security.