OREANDA-NEWS. April 07, 2011. A workshop “Enforcement of the law on electric power industry, issues of concern, antimonopoly regulation and control” was held in Khabarovsk. The event was attended by representatives of the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia and antimonopoly bodies from the regions within the Far East Federal District, judges of the Federal Arbitration Court of the Far East Federal District, the heads of legal and sales departments of the following energy companies form the Russian Far East: “Dalnevostochnaya Generiruyuschaya Kompania [Power Generating Company]” OJSC, “Dalnevostochnaya Energeticheskaya Kompania [Energy Company]” OJSC, “Dalnevostochnaya Raspredelitelnaya Kompania [Distribution Company]” OJSC, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

The issues of antimonopoly control on the market of electric power in the Russian Far East are quite pressing. Most cases are related to imposing disadvantageous contract conditions upon consumers, unreasonable restrictions of consumption of electric and heat energy by debtors, preventing entry to the wholesale market of electric power and capacity, technological connection to electricity and heating networks. The most urgent recent problem has been calculation of payment for electric power for the needs of a residential house in general. All above issues were given thorough consideration at the workshop.

The participants analysed enforcement practice of Khabarovsk OFAS Russia in antimonopoly control over providers of last resort, network organisations, executors of utility services, as well as the established judicial practice.

As pointed out by the participants of the first event of this kind, it was not simply a workshop to advance qualification of the lawyers of energy companies. The workshop also provided an opportunity to actively ask questions and be engaged in professional discussions, and as result develop a strategy how to find answers to constantly emerging questions. It is planned to continue organising such workshops. Al these measures will help energy companies to develop adequate relations with the consumers of heat and electric power.

“At the workshop we discussed important aspects of performance of electric energy markets, the practice of antimonopoly control in this field as well as judicial practice. Summing up the results of this workshop, we will compile a list of practical issues that must be resolved in order to further improve market performance, particularly, by drafting normative legal acts”, stated in his speech Vitaly Korolyov, the Head of the FAS Russia’s Department for Control over Electric Power Industry.