In Almaty, more than 500 families have been left without electricity and water due to a multimillion-tenge debt owed by their residential complex. Apartment owners insist they paid their utility bills on time, according to infohub.kz.
Utility services completely cut power to two 18-story business-class buildings near the city center. Along with the electricity, water disappeared from apartments and elevators stopped. The owners only learned of the 34 million tenge debt to the electricity supplier after the disconnection.
"There's no light, no gas, no water – you can't even wash a child. I, for example, live on the 12th floor, and it's very hard for me to climb up with a stroller. I work online, so it also affects my productivity," said Gulnur Zhumabaeva, a resident of the complex.
The complex was commissioned two years ago. The electricity was cut off early in the morning, so residents didn't even have time to stock up on water. Parents with many children had to climb to the upper floors with small children and strollers using the stairs.
"It's simply impossible to go down or up without electricity. You saw yourself how I climbed, how hard it is with a little one. Especially with no help," said resident Fatiya Tatarova.
Apartment owners said they transferred money for utilities not directly to the supplier but to the management company. Now people are demanding an explanation as to why the funds did not reach the energy company.
"We have become hostages to an economic conflict between the developer and the management company. Let them sort it out in court. Courts don't move that fast. They can drag on for years. Give us light!" said resident Rakhilya Kurbaniyazova.
The director of the management company, Amir Nurgozhanov, said the organization is responsible for maintaining common property. According to him, the developer stopped paying for the services provided. However, the head could not explain where the money transferred by residents went.
– The developer stopped paying for our services – do you understand?
– And you decided to keep the residents' money for yourselves?
– Not exactly. There, it turns out, we went to court. We already won by a court decision.
Residents want to open individual accounts and pay the electricity supplier directly. A representative of the construction company said the developer is working on transferring the buildings to the city's balance sheet.
"To open personal accounts, you need around 70-80% of residents to already be moved in. To open personal accounts. At that time, that percentage was not there. Plus there were some defects in the external networks, which have now been fixed. We are working on the transfer," said Rauan Barimbekov, a representative of the construction company.
Alatau Zharyk Company said it is ready to open personal accounts for the owners. However, the developer must first fully repay the 34 million tenge debt.
"Since payments from them are not coming in on time, these are extreme measures. We are waiting for the developer to fully repay the debt," said Gulshat Temirtekova, deputy head of the district energy sales department of the Alatau Zharyk Company branch.
Residents demand the return of electricity and that the debts be sorted out without their involvement. When power will be restored is still unknown.