Results of MOESK Electric Grid Infrastructure Availability Program Have Been Considered at Meeting in RF Ministry of Economic Development and Trade

On 05.04, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation held a meeting to discuss the main results of implementing the actions of “road map”, “Improving access to energy infrastructure”, and consider its new version. Andrey Belousov, Minister for Economic Development acted as Chairman of the meeting. New standards of connection to electric grids were covered at the meeting by Stanislav Khatskevich, Deputy Director General for grid connection and services development of JSC “MOESK”.

Let us remind that according to Order #11-44r of the Russian Federation Government dd. 30.06.2012, the terms of connecting users to the energy infrastructure in Russia should be significantly simplified. As a result of implementation of the “road map”, it is expected to reduce the number of connection stages (from 10 to 5), reduce the time to go through all the steps to gain connection to the grid (from 281 to 40 days), as well as reduce the cost of connection to grid (from 1,852 up to 25 percent of gross domestic product per capita) by 2018. The rating Doing Business was chosen as a benchmark of successful implementation of the “road map”. It was calculated by the World Bank on an annual basis. Russia’s joining the top 20 of this ranking is the goal of implementation of the “road map” of the Russian Federation.

The event was attended by representatives from the working group of ANO (autonomous non-commercial organization) “ASI” (agency of strategic initiatives), JSC “MOESK”, Energy Industry Ministry of Russia, Moscow Government, FTS (Federal Tariff Service) of Russia, FAS (Federal Antimonopoly Service) of Russia, Ministry of Regional Development of Russia.

The meeting reviewed the results of 34 items set out in the current version of the “road map”, and offered a new version, which includes the 39 items needed for further improvement of availability of energy infrastructure. Five additional items concern approval of the new standard application form for grid connection, model energy supply, electric energy purchase and sale of contracts. The novations also concern improvement of the procedure for grid connection subject to joint ownership and legislative consolidation of the concept of “an energy receiver”. As part of the “road map” implementation, the procedure for settling relations of grid entities with third parties should be defined, Such an unsettled relationship often causes an increase in timing of grid connection.

According to Andrey Belousov, the new version of the document will shown the effect of implementation of the items to be obtained by the final consumer of services, such as business.

The new map will determine the work to simplify grid connection before the end of 2013, the results of execution will be summed up in 2014.

Stanislav Khatskevich, Deputy Director General for grid connection and services development of JSC “MOESK” reported the audience about the current results compliance by the Company with the electric grid infrastructure availability program. During his speech, Khatskevich told about new standards for grid connection to electric networks, which were put into effect on 01.01.2013, holding of workshops with the international rating agency Doing Business and representatives of the World Bank. Preliminary results of changes in JSC “MOESK” were announced: the number of stages of grid connection reduced from 10 to 4, time decreased from 281 to 146 days, cost reduced to RUR 426 ths. All these results apply to the categories of applicants who are assessed in the process of calculating the rating Doing Business.

Concluding the meeting, Andrey Belousov said that he appreciated participation of the Energy Industry Ministry, group ANO “ASI”, the city of Moscow and JSC “MOESK” in implementation of the measures aimed to increase the availability of energy infrastructure.