OREANDA-NEWS. June 14, 2013. Rostov Regional Arbitration Court upheld a determination issued by the Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the Rostov region (Rostov OFAS Russia) to fine “MRSK-South” OJSC – “Rostovenergo” over 27 million Rubles.

Earlier Rostov OFAS Russia received a complaint from the Department for Construction Coordination and Prospective Development (Rostov-on-Don) about actions of “MRSK-South” OJSC – “Rostovenergo”. The company was delaying connection to an electric power network, infringing the legitimate interests of the petitioner.

In July 2010 MRSK-South” OJSC and the Department for Construction Coordination and Prospective Development (Rostov-on-Don) concluded a contract for connecting a sewage pumping station and collectors of the Department to the electric power networks.

At the moment of filing a complaint to Rostov OFAS Russia (more than 20 months after the contract was concluded) the company still had not commenced the works for connecting the Department for Construction Coordination and Prospective Development to the electric power networks.

Under Clause 16 of No.861 Rules “On Technological Connections of Energy-Receiving Devices of Legal and Physical Persons to Electric Power Networks”, the execution period for connection works must not be longer than one year for the applicants, whose total connected capacity of energy-receiving devices does not exceed 750 KW.

Rostov OFAS Russia found that “MRSK-South” OJSC – “Rostovenergo” abused its market dominance (Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”), and imposed an administrative fine upon the company - 27,841,101 Rubles.

The company filed a lawsuit challenging the fine; however, Rostov Regional Arbitration Court supported the position of the antimonopoly body.