Russian heat supply industry must radically increase its efficiency by use of new technologies, strategic (capital) improvements, transition to long-term customer relationships, introduction of new products and offers. This consideration was expressed by IES-Holding President Mikhail Slobodin at the 4th Workshop Conference "Heat Supply Systems. Modern Practical Solutions", on September 9, 2009. In his statement at the conference IES-Holding President emphasized that big positive prospects for the industry are connected with a new federal draft law ‘On Energy Saving and Increasing Energy Efficiency' currently being prepared by the Russian Government, and also with the plan of actions for its implementation. In particular, the draft law contains some changes in heat supply tariff policy, in particular, longer regulation periods, two-part tariff (one part is payment for capacity, the other - for energy), RAB, possible deregulation for commercial consumers and heat power facilities put into operation after 2010. ‘These measures will facilitate formation of necessary financial and economic conditions for industry modernization, and first of all, will open the doors for investors,' said Mikhail Slobodin. Power metering (accounting) regulations - another key aspect of the draft law - will allow significant stimulation of energy saving. According to IES-Holding President, ‘without power meters consumers don't have any stimulus for energy saving - they simply don't know how much they could save.' What is more, it is necessary to subsidize borrowing rates for power meters installation, introduce flexible tariff rates to support energy saving, and alter utilities normative and legal regulations to strengthen payment discipline in heat supply sector. |
