Hotline of power engineering specialists:
Employees of IDGC of Centre - Smolenskenergo division during 2017 conducted regular work to increase the payment discipline of consumers for transmitted electricity and collect overdue receivables. In accordance with court decisions, 80.91 million rubles were collected from unfair consumers under 68 enforcement proceedings, including 4.72 million rubles of penalties.
Currently, under the Russian law, nonpaying organizations may be threatened with disconnection or restriction of electricity supply, and their management - disqualification, criminal prosecution and other measures. So, for example, during the joint work of Smolenskenergo’s security department and representatives of the Federal Bailiff Service Directorate of Russia in the Smolensk region in December 2017, a raid was conducted at the addresses of debtors in order to verify their property status and seizure of their property. The result of the raid was the seizure of property (a production facility with a total area of 432.4 sq. m.) of LLC "West", whose debt is 2.27 million rubles.
Such tough measures are fully justified, since the presence of receivables makes it difficult to fulfill the obligations of the energy company to ensure reliable electricity supply to the region, has a negative impact on the implementation of production plans of power engineers. At the same time, the growth of accounts receivable causes a tangible financial loss to the grid company, brakes the repair program, the reconstruction of power grids, which can directly affect the reliability of the power supply of the region’s inhabitants.
It is more profitable to solve the problem of debt for electricity transmission services to non-payers without bringing the matter to court. This will not only reduce the time for litigation, but will also avoid the use of penalties and other measures provided by law.