MOSCOW, August 27, 2007 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information concerning how Russians satisfied by quality of the housing and communal services; how often they encounter the stoppages of water, electricity, gas and how fast the stoppages are fixed.

The satisfaction level of Russians for housing and communal services quality grew considerably in comparison with April 2005: the share of discontented respondents has reduced from 64% to 43%, and the share of those who accept these services has grown from 32% to 52%.

The best evaluation of the situation with housing and communal services is provided by respondents from the Central and Ural federal districts (+67%, -31% and +60%, -32%), the worst - by respondents from the Siberian (+39%, -55%), North-Western (+35%, -59%) and Far Eastern districts (+30%, -59%).

According to the respondents' estimations, the most well-being part of the housing and communal services is the gas service: the absence of the stoppages is considered by majority of respondents (68%); rarely, 1-2 times per year encounter problems 14% of respondents, almost every month - 3%, more often - 1%. The things are worse for the electricity service: the absence of stoppages is considered by 39% of respondents; almost the same number, 38%, encounter the stoppages 1-2 times per year; 16% - almost every month, 5% - more often. The water supply is the most problematic - only 28% of respondents did not encounter the water stoppages, 38% have difficulties 1-2 times per year, 19% - almost every month, 10% - more often.

The situation around the water supply, electricity and gas is the best in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg. The water stoppages once per month and more often are considered by 9% of metropolitans and by 28-34% of respondents from other cities and villages; the electricity stoppages - by 7% and 14-25%. The gas stoppages are considered by 87% of Muscovites and citizens of Saint-Petersburg and 63-70% of respondents from other types of settlement.

The electricity stoppages stand among the most rapidly fixed problems of housing and communal services: 88% of those, who encountered such problems, consider that it is fixed in no more than one day. The gas supply stoppages are fixed at such short time in housing of the fewer shares of respondents - 80%. The most time-consuming is the maintenance of the water supply stoppages: the water stoppages are fixed in one day or less in housing of 65% of respondents, who encounter such problems. Correspondingly, the electricity stoppages are fixed in more than one day in 12% of cases, gas - in 20%, water - in 36% of cases.

The All-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM on July 28-29, 2007. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.