On 25 June, a meeting of the Russian Government was held in Moscow on the introduction of an extrajudicial procedure for the independent assessment of technical conditions for connection as part of the procedure for technological connection to power grids. The event was held in the Office of the Government of Russia under the chairmanship of Valery Shogenov, Acting Director of the Department of Energy of the Government of Russia. 

The meeting was attended by representatives of federal executive authorities, the Ministry of Energy, the Federal Antimonopoly Service, Rostechnadzor, and public organisations, including the Small Energy Association and Business Russia.

The position of business was voiced by Maxim Zagornov, President of the Small Power Association, Chairman of the Small Generation Subcommittee of the Energy Committee of Business Russia, Director of the MKS Group of Companies. 

Earlier, the Small Power Association and Business Russia sent a letter to the Government of the Russian Federation with a proposal to develop a mechanism for the FAS of Russia to review technical specifications issued by power grid organisations for their redundancy with the participation of key public associations. 

Maksim Zagornov voiced other initiatives during the meeting. 

‘In order to transition to a balanced composition of technical conditions for connection to power grids of small and medium-sized businesses, we propose to return the previously valid, but economically justified option of applying fixed rates for connected capacity per kW. This will deprive power grid organisations of the economic feasibility of searching for a ‘more complicated’ connection scheme and will create direct incentives to connect applicants faster and cheaper,’ said Maxim Zagornov.

During the meeting other proposals of business and public organisations aimed at curbing abuses by monopolists were also voiced. We are following the developments.