OREANDA-NEWS. October 6, 2009. Vladimir Putin's introductory speech: Good afternoon, colleagues,  We will discuss the progress of major electric facilities' and housing and utilities companies' preparation for the coming winter on this conference call.

According to company reports, preparations are proceeding smoothly and on schedule. The heating season is in fact already on in many regions. Territorial energy systems and most housing and utilities companies have completed their preparations on time: they have finished the required repairs and formed the necessary backups. Power plant stocks of coal and fuel oil exceed the required levels by 37% and 29%, respectively.

Naturally, it goes without saying that we cannot rely exclusively on general figures. Even minor breakdowns in this vital industry can have grave consequences; therefore, it is our responsibility to make every effort to prevent them.

Therefore, I am asking all of you to focus on the situation in the regions, which are still behind in their preparations. Today we will hear reports from the heads of several Russian regions explaining their lagging effort. We'll also hear from the heads of those regions which have successfully completed their preparations.

I am also asking all the agencies concerned to monitor the local situation closely. This especially concerns such issues as supplying heat and electricity to residential buildings and to important social services - hospitals, schools and kindergartens.

I am also instructing Rostekhnadzor to conduct additional inspections at heat and power plants to see if they are ready for the seasonal surge.

Siberian regions must certainly be given special attention, with due consideration of the problems arising from the breakdown of the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric dam.

Prompt measures taken immediately after the accident helped prevent disruptions in power supplies to local consumers; however seven Siberian regions are running an energy deficit as a result, and this circumstance needs to be taken into consideration when making plans for the winter.

The Government has already issued instructions aimed at restoring the energy balance in the affected regions. I would like to emphasise yet again that what we need to do is not just compensate for the current energy deficit, but ensure a sufficient reserve capacity in case of unexpected weather phenomena or other reasons for load peaks.

Now let me make three more important points.

First, we should prevent an increase in overdue debt for the resources supplied by the utilities. These debts currently exceed 158 billion roubles, including 10 billion roubles owned by government financed services and agencies.

I am now asking regional and municipal heads or representatives to make sure that their regions or cities do not accumulate more arrears. Please pay attention to the point I am making now. I am asking you to make every effort to ensure timely payments and debt clearance.

Second, the Housing and Utilities Reform Fund is currently implementing a programme of capital repairs in residential buildings. Let me remind you that the Fund has by now spent nearly 112 billion roubles for this purpose. The total investment under the programme, including the money provided by regional governments, is close to 152 billion. This is a lot of money. It has been spent to overhaul more than 80,000 buildings and improve the living conditions of 10 million Russians.

However, with winter so close, I have to ask regional governors to remember that most of this work needs to be completed before cold weather sets in.

Last, we need to continue a consistent reform and modernisation of the housing and utilities sector. This will help cut costs and upgrade technology, thus improving the system's reliability and efficiency. This is the only way to improve living conditions.

Let me cite one example: the Housing and Utilities Reform Fund's programme I mentioned has helped decrease heating losses in residential buildings by one-third.