Russia Plans a Unified Digital System for Utility Payments
The new service could simplify life for millions of residents, putting all housing and utility bills in one national online platform.
Russia’s Ministry of Construction is proposing a nationwide digital system for paying utility bills, integrating one of the country’s most bureaucratic routines into its growing e-government ecosystem. The draft law would give digital receipts the same legal weight as paper ones, allowing citizens to receive and pay bills entirely online, regardless of where they live.
The plan centers on Gosuslugi — Russia’s main digital portal for public services. Under the proposal, utility invoices would appear both on Gosuslugi and in the State Information System for Housing and Utilities (GIS Housing). Posting the bill online would officially count as delivery to the customer, meaning homeowners could view and pay for all their properties in one place — a significant convenience for those with homes in multiple cities.
Officials emphasize that the initiative is an optional feature, not a replacement for paper billing. Traditional printed statements will remain available, especially for older citizens more comfortable with the current system.
If adopted, the program would mark another major step in Russia’s effort to digitize public infrastructure — bringing housing, utilities, and payment systems into a unified digital framework designed to make everyday life faster and more transparent.
