OREANDA-NEWS. January 31, 2011.Transcript of the beginning of the meeting: Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, Mr Shvets.

At the end of the last year and in the beginning of this year, power engineers faced a number of serious problems caused by extreme weather and a great deal has been done to remedy the situation: to restore power supply in many population centres,  to restore power transmission lines. We agreed that now would be the time for you to report back to me on the results of your work and plans for the future. So, please proceed.

Nikolai Shvets: Mr Putin, per your assignment, the Ministry of Energy has drawn up and analyzed proposals for the development and improvement of power distribution reliability. We have been jointly working on this. Yesterday, the ministry’s report was ready and the plan was submitted to the government staff with draft assignments attached.

As for the power restoration in the regions hit by extreme weather, currently power has been restored to our specifications and is operating normally.

Vladimir Putin: So, you mean you are not using temporary lines?

Nikolai Shvets: No, no more temporary lines. We continue preventive measures, upgrading out facilities, but this is part of our routine work.

Further, following your instructions, we have organised a plan for the North-Western region. I think you remember the forecast there was unfavourable. The Ministry of Energy, the minister himself had conference calls with the regional centres of operation. They actually ended up putting the emergency reaction control teams on full alert. In general, the technical malfunctions that happened during that time were corrected within the time allotted by regulation.

We also arranged communication for public feedback. We opened additional channels of communication and carefully analysed all the petitions. As for the public’s complaints, there were 223 of them, with 54 complaints referencing instances of extortion. All such complaints…

Vladimir Putin: For power connection?

Nikolai Shvets: For the restoration of power supply. All such complaints are followed up on with law enforcement. One complaint was grounds enough for the Odintsovo procurator’s office to open a criminal case. We also worked with other civil institutions, including government authorities. The Minister of Energy conducted a round-table discussion at the State Duma. A meeting of the commission at the Federation Council is scheduled for February 1.

We are appraising the damages to our companies inflicted by the extreme weather. To date, such damages have added up to 1,770 million roubles. The apprehensions that the damages would trigger electricity rates increases have proved groundless. We keep in close contact with the insurers and over the past period our relations have become very business-like. Therefore, at this point 30% of the damages have already been compensated and the insurance companies have accepted our documentation. Hopefully, 95% of the damages will be covered by insurance.

Vladimir Putin: Good. Thank you.