A meeting with the largest consumers on the conclusion of direct contracts with a grid company has been held in IDGC of Centre — Smolenskenergo division for the second time. The first event’s experience showed that this matter is of interest to many entrepreneurs.
The seminar took place in Smolensk on the site of the executive office of the branch. Head of electricity delivery Office of Smolenskenergo Zhanna Danchenkova, Acting Head of interaction with market entities Elena Sidorova and Specialist of Section Anton Kazakov told the customers about the features of direct contracts, the benefits of direct interaction between consumers and the grid company.
The event was attended by representatives of many companies of the Smolensk region, including the largest ones — OJSC “Iceberg”, OJSC “Crystal”, OJSC “Smolensk Hosiery Factory”, CJSC “Kardymovsky Concentrated Milk Factory” and others.
“Currently a large number of competing supply companies are appearing at the wholesale and retail electricity market — said Anton Kazakov. — In case of signing a direct contract on provision of electricity transmission services with a grid company, the consumer can independently regulate relations with the grid company for the transmission of electric energy subject to the availability of the sale-purchase contract with a retailer. This greatly improves the quality and reliability of electricity supply”.
The customers were also explained that direct contracts (i.e., without intermediaries) to provide electricity transmission services between consumers and grid companies can create a competitive market for electricity supply to all consumers connected to the grid, to make clear the mechanism of formation of cost of purchasing power for the consumer, to reduce the risk of nonpayment to IDGC of Centre from one customer for the electrical energy transmission service, to organize a direct technological relationship at the retail electricity market as a key element to ensure the security of energy supply in the region.
The specialists of the branch responded to the consumers’ questions about individual schemes of interaction and the terms and conditions of transition to the new contractual relationship. The organizers of the roundtable gave the participants a standard form of the contract with a direct consumer and provided with contact information of experts on direct contracts.
For the period from 2009 up to the present day IDGC of Centre — Smolenskenergo division has enetered into 135 direct contracts with customers, including such large as OJSC “Dorogobuzh”, “Promkonservy ” LLC, “Vyazemsky brick plant” LLC, OJSC “Pervomaisky glass plant”, “Sychevsky electrode plant” LLC. The branch plans to continue this experience of cooperation in the future.