OREANDA-NEWS. On July 31, 2007 pursuant to the Order of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, Yuri Udaltsov, member of the Management Board and Head of the Reform Management Center of RAO "UES of Russia" has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Merit for the Motherland, Grade 2, for his great contribution to the development of the fuel and energy industry, many years of excellent work, and labour achievements, reported the press-centre of RAO "UES of Russia".

Yuri Udaltsov was among the architects of the Russian electricity reform launched in 2001. He has been directly involved in the creation of the Strategy Concept 5+5, the basic document determining the guidelines and key mechanisms for the sector's restructuring, the current industry structure, including the wholesale and territorial generation companies, as well as the infrastructure companies, Federal Grid Company and System Operator.

This made it possible to dramatically change the investment climate in the Russian electricity sector and attract foreign and private investment needed for its development.

Yuri Udaltsov is one of the authors of the new model for the liberalized wholesale and retail electricity markets launched in Russia on 1 September 2006.