With the aim to continue the development of free market relations in the economy of Turkmenistan as well as to regulate prices for gas, electricity, housing and communal, transport and communications services for all users, the President of Turkmenistan has signed a decree, which establishes the following charges for natural gas (inclusive of VAT) as from November 1, 2017: for citizens of Turkmenistan, who are not engaged in entrepreneurial activities – 20 manats for 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas, after exceeding the free usage limits; for foreign citizens, who have received a residence permit in accordance with the laws of Turkmenistan, and stateless persons and refugees – 20 manats per 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas, after exceeding the free usage limits; for other consumers, except those mentioned in paragraphs two and three (with the exception of a share of foreign investors in enterprises, engaged in foreign investment activities, as well as building contractors, carrying out construction and erection works in Turkmenistan under contracts in foreign currency) – 20 manats per 1,000 per cubic meters of natural gas; for a share of foreign investors in enterprises, engaged in foreign investment as well as building contractors, carrying out construction and erection works in Turkmenistan under foreign currency contracts – US $50 per 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas; for residential and other needs – 20 tenges per kilogram of liquefied gas, used beyond the fixed free limits. The Decree also introduces the following VAT exclusive electricity rates: for budget-funded organizations and legal entities equivalent to them – 3.31 manats per 100 kilowatt-hours; for state-owned self-supporting legal entities, legal entities, which are not state-owned property, and individuals engaged in entrepreneurial activities – 6.28 manats per 100 kilowatt-hours; for foreign citizens, who have received a residence permit in accordance with the laws of Turkmenistan, stateless persons and refugees – 2.17 manats per 100 kilowatt-hours; for legal entities (created in accordance with the laws of foreign countries), which operate via a representative office and branch office officially registered in Turkmenistan – US $3.58 per 100 kilowatt-hours; for diplomatic missions accredited to Turkmenistan, consular offices of foreign countries and permanent representative offices of interstate, intergovernmental, international organizations of these countries, as well as for interstate, intergovernmental, international organizations, their affiliates and permanent representative offices in Turkmenistan – 3.31 manats per 100 kilowatt-hours; for citizens of Turkmenistan, who are not engaged in entrepreneurial work – 2.50 manats (VAT inclusive) per 100 kilowatt-hours of electricity, after exceeding the free usage limits. The Decree fixes charges for housing, communal, transport and communications services, rendered to individuals by enterprises irrelevant of their legal form of organization: per cubic meter of water used beyond the free limits per month – 50 tenges; per square meter of living space per month – 50 tenges; per square meter of heated area per month – 10 tenges; sewerage services per person per month – 40 tenges; The following fares will be charged on public transport operating with fixed schedules and routes: a bus ticket – 50 tenges; a monthly bus ticket for pensioners – 1 manat; a monthly bus ticket for schoolchildren – 2 manats; Monthly charges for telephone services will be 1 manat (VAT inclusive).