24.02.2026
During the “Energy Freedom” talk show organized by Energy Club, Ivan Plachkov, Chairman of the All-Ukrainian Energy Assembly and twice Minister of Energy, presented a tough analysis of the current situation surrounding the NEURC reform. He recalled why the Regulator was created in 1994, why the Western market format is impossible in Ukraine, and how incompetence in Parliament is destroying the industry.
Ivan Plachkov reminded that the decree establishing the NERC was signed back in 1994 by Leonid Kravchuk. It was a continuation of reforms and a requirement from international partners (IMF, World Bank). The Regulator’s task was to establish economically justified tariffs in the field of natural monopolies (electricity, heat, water, and gas supply).
However, according to the former minister, a situation has arisen in Ukraine that has no analogs in the world.
“There is no miracle in the world like ours. When one person — a citizen of Ukraine or, at best, citizens of Russia — own energy companies, natural monopolies. In the USA or Europe, these are public companies with hundreds of thousands of shareholders and pension funds. But here — one owner of DTEK, and oblenergos are owned by 4-6 businessmen. We don’t even know if the issues with the oblenergos of Babakov, Hryhoryshyn, and other Russian citizens have been resolved. Can you imagine what total control and regulation are needed here?” Plachkov emphasized.
He cited the example of the USA, where monopolies are monitored by four powerful bodies simultaneously (Anti-Monopoly Committee, Securities and Exchange Commission, IRS, etc.), and companies go bankrupt for the slightest machinations, as happened with Enron, while executives receive 100-year prison sentences.
Ivan Plachkov noted that the very idea of a free energy market is wonderful, but Ukraine did not prepare the industry for its implementation. And keeping market mechanisms during a war, when the electricity deficit reaches 50%, is absurd.
“What competition can there be with a 50% deficit? The market was left only because it provides the opportunity to withdraw huge funds today. An example with Energoatom: after ‘Mindichgate,’ when there shouldn’t have been even a thought of violations, we see how two billion are taken out through a direct contract exactly one week later! Or DTEK says: ‘we will return 150 million so as not to look bad.’ Today, the energy market simply provides an opportunity to make money,” the former minister said indignantly.
According to his estimates, about 20% of funds are currently being withdrawn from the energy sector. There is only one solution for wartime: strict control of license conditions and the introduction of external management for violators.
Commenting on the involvement of international experts with a decisive vote in forming the NEURC, Plachkov was categorical: 90% of such consultants are “tourists” (gastrolery) who come for the money and bear no responsibility for Ukraine’s future.
At the same time, the level of competence of the Ukrainian authorities in energy is extremely low.
“Who in the Parliament or Government today can say how a power plant works? No one. In NEURC, only a few professionals remain, such as Zaichenko or Ushchapovskyi, who should be given medals for enduring all this. I am invited to a VRU committee: war, TPPs are destroyed, and they are seriously considering the implementation of small modular reactors that don’t even exist in the world yet, shouting ‘we will be first!'” Plachkov shared.
As a way out of the situation, the former minister cited the example of Great Britain (Ofgem). An Office of Energy Experts operates under the government — a group of 9-11 of the most experienced industry specialists. They do not pass laws but act as arbiters: if a court, government, or regulator considers a complex issue, they turn to the Office for a professional opinion. And their opinion is almost never ignored, as energy is too complex for populist politicians.
