OREANDA-NEWS. During the fall-winter period (FWP) of 2013-2014, Federal Grid Company reduced the failure rate at its facilities by 17.8% YoY. Compared to the heating season of 2011-2012 the decrease is 26%. The performance results of Federal Grid and other energy companies were discussed at the All-Russian Meeting summing up the lower-temperatures period of 2013-2014.

The event was attended by the Russian Minister of Energy Alexander Novak, Chairman of the Russian State Duma Energy Committee Ivan Grachev, Chairman of the Management Board of JSC FGC UES Andrey Murov and representatives of federal authorities and energy companies.

Opening the meeting, Alexander Novak gave positive evaluation of the performance results of most companies in the industry during the fall-winter period. He stated that during that period there had been no major failures that could have affected the country's economy, provision of vital services to the population, and the quality of services. The Minister of Energy commended power engineering specialists, including FGC UES, for their highly professional work during the flood in the Far East and uninterrupted power supply to the Olympic Games in Sochi. In his view, electric grid and power-generating companies proved to be a well-organized team that is always prepared to meet any challenge.

“Federal Grid Company succeeded in reducing the amount of process failures both at substations and on power transmission lines,” stated Chairman of the Management Board of JSC FGC UES Andrey Murov. “We managed to avoid major outages during the heating season. Federal Grid has already started preparing for the peak load of 2014-2015. We have developed a new enhanced program for ice control, which will make it possible to minimize the effects of natural factors in the Southern, Volga and Ural regions of Russia.”

During the FWP and its preparation stage, Federal Grid Company held 29,600 emergency and fire response drills for its operating personnel. The required amount of backup equipment and materials for emergency and repair work was ensured.

Federal Grid own resources for carrying out emergency and repair work amounted to 5,300 people and 4,500 items of machinery. Additionally, 126 agreements with contracting organizations were made, which allowed engaging about 8,400 people and 3,100 items of machinery. The company has 382 diesel generator plants with the total capacity of 155.6 thousand kW for ensuring secure operations of 220-750 kV substations.

During the heating season, special operating regime was implemented at Federal Grid facilities 9 times and high readiness regime - 137 times. This was caused, in particular, by unfavorable weather conditions in a few regions of this country. Specifically, in December of 2013, 6 point earthquakes hit the Republics of Khakassia and Tyva, in the south of Krasnoyarsk Territory. Additionally, in late January of 2014, our affiliates in Rostov and Stavropol had to deal with blizzards and extremely cold temperatures dropping to -23°C.

In order to promptly receive weather forecasts, Federal Grid Company signed 67 agreements with territorial branches of the Hydrometeorological Centre of Russia and is currently implementing 87 cooperation agreements with the divisions of Emercom of Russia.