Kaktus.media looked back at previous years and compared the situation with neighboring cities.
Changes in the hot water shutdown schedule
Many residents of the capital remember that previously hot water was turned off after the May holidays. In 2007, 2009, and 2010, this occurred on May 11. There were also earlier shutdowns, such as on May 6 in 2019 and May 10 in 2016.Only in 2024 did the shutdown dates change, when hot water was turned off at the end of April, but it was still in the last decade of the month, as it was last year.
In 2017, the shutdown occurred on May 22, and just two years later, the previous schedule was resumed. In 2019, hot water was absent from May 6 to June 3, coinciding with the month of Orozo.
From 2021 to 2023, shutdowns occurred in mid-May. The year 2024 was marked by an accident at the CHPP: on the night of February 1 to 2, an incident occurred, resulting in five people being injured. By February 5, heating was restored, but problems remained. Officials linked the need to extend the shutdown period to major repairs.
Last year, the situation repeated itself: hot water was absent for 40 days. The head of the dispatch service "Bishkekteploset" Urmat Kubanychbek uulu explained this by the wear and tear of the networks, many of which were put into operation back in 1965.
We extended the deadlines to prepare for the next heating season. There is a lot of work. We do not have enough time in 30 days.The reasons for such an early shutdown of hot water this year remain unclear. The city administration is not providing comments, although they exist, but do not explain the reasons.
“All services worked in enhanced mode during the autumn-winter period, ensuring uninterrupted heating supply. And immediately after the end of the heating season, municipal services will begin preparations for the next heating season, including repair and preventive work,” the municipality stated while announcing the shutdown dates.
Only one question arises: if everything was done so well, why will the city be left without hot water as early as the beginning of April?
How are things with the neighbors
In Almaty, major facilities are equipped with the option to switch to other heating networks, which helps avoid shutdowns. In small boiler houses, hot water is turned off for no more than 2-3 weeks, and work is carried out from May to August.In Astana, hot water shutdowns begin after the heating season ends (late April - early May) and last about 14 days. However, not the entire city is shut down at once, but rather in separate sections.
From March 24 to May 1, 2026, Tashkent plans to conduct tests of the main heating networks, during which hot water will be turned off, but not for the entire duration. From March 24 to 31, the shutdowns will be short-term, and afterward, there will be no shutdowns. Moreover, shutdowns will also be conducted in separate sections.
In Moscow, scheduled preventive work for hot water shutdowns lasts no more than 14 days from May to the end of August according to a pre-established schedule, which helps avoid mass shutdowns.
