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Russian power boss pledges understanding for real
hardship in regions
ITAR-TASS
Moscow, 15 January, ITAR-TASS correspondent Robert Sepebrennikov: Unified Energy Systems of Russia [UES] is acting in accordance with the declared wishes of the Russian president that it not rush into a strict implementation of a power-for-money formula during Russia's transitional period, the chairman of the UES board, Anatoliy Chubays, told ITAR-TASS, while fielding questions in the State Duma [Russian lower house] today.
The energy boss said that exceptions will be made to this formula in cases where there is objective evidence that delays in payments for electricity in a given area are related to real difficulties in the budgetary system. Chubays cited as an example Ulyanovsk Region, where in November and December of last year no payment was received for current electricity supplies. The total debt was somewhere in the region of R130m. What's more the volume of electricity stolen from other areas is equal to two years' electricity consumption in the Region.
Despite this, UES has decided not to take any measures with regard to Ulyanovsk Region's debt. On Wednesday [16 January] a special meeting will be held to discuss how best to resolve this situation.
The UES boss added that he had given an order forbidding the company to cut off electricity in the evenings. "Any instance of evening shut-offs will be treated as an example of unprofessional conduct," he stressed.
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