He believes that the capital is warm enough for mid-October. Forecasters predict +16 °C, he told reporters, which is much higher than the standard for the beginning of the season.
Panteleev claims that technical capabilities make it possible to start heating throughout the city “right now,” but for now the mayor’s office considered it necessary to turn on heat in social institutions – in kindergartens, schools and hospitals. In residential buildings, heating can be turned on as early as November, the official noted. He stressed that the authorities are striving to use gas reserves in a “balanced” way, which may be greatly needed in winter.
“In principle, we could already start the heating season, technically we are ready for this. But given the weather – it’s really not very cold yet, and given the fact that gas now needs to be used very carefully, since the enemy is actually destroying the gas infrastructure, production, so we must be conscious. And while there is no decision on the start of the heating season, we are waiting until the weather conditions are such that it will be advisable to start the heating season season,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center reports that on the night of October 19 in the Kyiv region it will be +2…+7 °C, during the day +4…+9 °C.
In the capital at night it will be +3…+5 °С, during the day the air will warm up only to +6…+8 °С.
Context
According to the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 830which has been in effect for more than six years, the heating season in Ukraine begins when the average daily air temperature is +8 °C and below, and ends when the air on average per day begins to warm up to more than +8 °C. The decision on the start of the heating season is made by local governments.
On October 8, the government approved a number of changes (.pdf) to the resolution imposing special responsibilities on gas market entities, which were introduced for the first time after the outbreak of a full-scale war. Among these changes are amendments regarding the validity period of the formula according to which fixed volumes of gas are calculated for heat producers.
They have already begun to heat public institutions – hospitals and (or) schools, kindergartens – in Vinnitsa, Zhitomir, Kyiv, Khmelnitsky, Uzhgorod, Rivne.
