OREANDA-NEWS. September 23, 2009. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia), jointly with "OPORA ROSSII" published a textbook for small companies, explaining how to arrange connections to electric power lines, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

"The textbook explains the algorithm for connecting to the electric power lines and advises when network organizations violated the rights of entrepreneurs and what can be done in such situations", said an assistant to the Head of FAS Russia Alexey Kozhevnikov, who participated in the project.

Alexey Kozhevnikov reminded that at the beginning of 2009 came into force the Decrees of the Government of the Russian Federation (No.118, No.119 and No. 334), aimed at considerable simplification of the procedures for connecting facilities required by small and medium business to the electric power line and significant reduction of the costs of such procedures. In particular, the fee for technological connection of power receivers with maximum power output not exceeding 15 kW inclusive (given early connected power in this connection point), regardless of availability of technical possibilities, is fixed, on the basis of the costs of technological connection at the level no more than 550 Rubles.

Connecting power receivers with maximum power output from 15 kW to 100 kW inclusive (given early connected power in this connection point), payments for technological connection can be made in installments, within up to three years from the date of actual connection, with 5% of the fee for technological connection as the advance payment without any interest.

"Network companies do violate the law and that's why it is important for the entrepreneurs to know their rights and understand who they should approach to resolve the issues", said Alexey Kozhevnikov.

Mr. Kozhevnikov gave an example that recently the FAS Russia's Department on Electric Power Industry completed an inspection of the Moscow regional energy supplier (REK Moscow). In particular, FAS Russia established that REK Moscow unreasonably allowed network organizations to require small business to present documents confirming that the company is included in the Moscow Register of small and medium companies, which is absolutely forbidden.

Currently FAS Russia, jointly with the regional offices, is monitoring the situation with technological connection of small companies. If any violations are discovered, the antimonopoly bodies initiate proceedings against the violators.

For instance, in August 2009 the Moscow Office of FAS Russia fined the "Moscow United Electric Network Company [Moskovskaya Obyedinennaya Elektrosetevaya Komapnia]" OJSC 45.3 million Rubles for abusing dominant position in the market of services for technological connection of consumers to electric power lines.

The "Moscow United Electric Network Company" unreasonably refused to enter into a contract for technological connection of customer's power receivers to distributing electric power lines to supply electric power to construction facilities in the Naro-Fominsk District of the Moscow Region. Those actions infringed legitimate interests of a resident of the Moscow Region, upon whose petition the case was initiated.