OREANDA-NEWS. May 18, 2010. Within the frameworks of the exhibition “Power industry and Electrotechnics” the conference “Distribution grid complex of the Russian Federation: state, problems, ways of solving” was held for the first time at the initiative of  IDGC Holding, JSC in pavilion No.7, 8А of the exhibition complex “Lenexpo” (Saint-Petersburg city).

The partners of IDGC Holding, JSC in the organization of the Conference were “Lenexpo”, JSC, magazine “Energopolis”, media-holding “RusCable” including Internet portal “RUSCABLE” and magazine “Cable-news”.

Over 600 persons participated in the event. The following ones were among them: Heads of group of companies “VS Energy International" (Ukraine), large international companies: EDF, ERDF, “Schneider Electric”, “Neksans” (France), representatives of administration of Saint-Petersburg city and Leningrad region, chief engineers and technical specialists of subsidiary operating companies of IDGC Holding, Heads and specialists of the largest Russian and foreign energy companies, research and educational institutions, “OPORA ROSSII” Ltd., as well as veterans of the distribution electric power complex of Russia. 13 reports were given a hearing.

Pavel Okley, Deputy General Director – Technical Director, Alexandr Uzhanov, Director for Information Policy and Communications, and Dmitry Medvedev, the Head of the Department of technical development and regulation, represented IDGC Holding, JSC at the conference. 

Pavel Okley extended greetings from Nikolay Shvets, General Director of IDGC Holding, JSC, to the participants of the Conference. In his report Pavel Okley noted that the current state of the distribution grid complex of the Russian Federation is characterized by high levels of deterioration of equipment (69% average over IDGC) and losses (8,7% according to the results of 2009). According to him, the key means of power efficiency increase in the distribution grid complex of the Russian Federation is reduction of technological and commercial losses.

One of the principal indicators of quality of power supply of consumers is duration and frequency of supply interruptions. “During the autumn-winter period of 2009/2010, in spite of certain growth of number of  disturbances there was the considerable decrease of their average duration – form five and a half up to four hours”, - Pavel Okley announced. It appears to him that the Company could achieve such indicators due to dully and full implementation of repair program and stable high level of capital investments in modernization and technical re-equipment of distribution grids as well. 

Pavel Okley drew the Conference participants’ attention to the necessity of carrying out of large- scale renovation of power grid equipment. At its carrying out it is planned to use new technologies and up-to-date equipment allowing to reduce unit costs and to improve operational characteristics of grid elements with the purpose of providing of uninterrupted and reliable power supply of consumers.

In accordance with the draft Program of renovation (renewal) of distribution grid complex that is planned for consideration by the Government of the Russian Federation in May it is expected the decrease of  deterioration of equipment till 2020 from 69% up to 48%, losses in grids– from 8,7% up to 6,1%.

“The Regulation on Technical Policy in Distribution Grid Complex”: approval of the document is planned for the second half of the year 2010 will help IDGC Holding in realization of objects in view.

Dmitry Medvedev, the Head of the Department of technical development and regulation of IDGC Holding, JSC noted that one of the main requirements to up-to-date power grid equipment is obligatory use of new technologies allowing to reduce unit costs and to improve operational characteristics of grid elements.

Within the frameworks of the Conference the reports of representatives of foreign energy companies were made as well. The colleagues from France: Jacques Orvileur, General Director of the Company “Electricite Reseau Distribution France International”, and Mark Buallo, Advisor Representative of the Management Board of ERDF shared their experience in management of power grids.  According to the participants of the Conference the advanced foreign experience should find use in the regions of the Russian Federation. 

Within the frameworks of Victory Banner Handover that took place on May 5, 2010 in the Hall of Victory of the Central Museum of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation at the initiative of the veterans of the distribution power grid complex of Russia the honouring of participants of the Great Patriotic War took place at the Conference.

Yury Zhukov, Chairman of the Coordination Council of the veterans of distribution power grid complex, in his speech noted courage and heroism of electric power engineers demonstrated during the years of the Great Patriotic War. According to him, “the experience of engineering and construction of power facilities of war and postwar years provided the basis for creation of powerful Unified Energy System of the country”. 

To continue the events devoted to honouring of veterans the opening of commemorative plaque in honour of the veterans-power engineers who had been providing power supply of the capital of the North within 1941-1945 is planned to take place on May 13. 

Expediency of holding such events regularly is pointed out in the decision taken following the results of the Conference.