Russia Launches Pilot Program for Digital Utility Debt Collection

A new experiment uses the Gosuslugi government portal to digitally notify citizens of unpaid utility bills, aiming to streamline enforcement and ease court backlogs.

On July 1, 2025, Russia launched a pilot program to test a digital debt collection system for unpaid utility services in select regions. The year-long experiment uses the Gosuslugi government services portal to notify users of outstanding payments and possible legal actions, with the goal of speeding up collections and reducing the burden on the judicial system, according to First Technical.

When a debt is registered, users will receive a notification in their personal Gosuslugi account. The portal will also display information about potential court proceedings. This digital-first approach is expected to eliminate paperwork and shorten enforcement timelines.

The Ministry of Construction is expected to finalize the list of participating regions within 15 working days. Participation in the experiment is voluntary for both residents and service providers.

The program’s broader objectives include simplifying debt notifications, easing the caseload on justices of the peace, and accelerating the debt recovery process. If successful, the system could be rolled out nationwide—and might even draw interest from other countries looking to modernize their public service infrastructure.