Non-discriminatory access to the power grid was discussed at Belgorodenergo

IDGC of Centre - Belgorodenergo division held meetings with representatives of local authorities of municipal districts of the Belgorod region, small businesses, horticultural societies and garage-building cooperatives on increasing the availability of power grid infrastructure and simplification of the connection to the power grid.

Question of applicants were answered by head of grid connections of IDGC of Centre Timur Glushko, head of customer interaction Olga Lezhneva and Deputy Director for Sale and Development of Services of the Belgorod branch Denis Arzamastsev.

During the meeting participants discussed specific projects, parameters and timing of execution of contracts of grid connection, touched upon the problems in their implementation faced by both consumers and the grid company, as well as talked about the recent changes in the grid connection legislation and the innovations that will come into force from October 1, 2015.

Representatives of the grid company reminded that the grid connection procedure is clearly regulated by the RF Government Resolution # 861 dated 27.12.2004 and implemented on the basis of a contract concluded between a consumer and Belgorodenergo. Applications are accepted in the customer service centres and points located in each district of the region, through the Internet reception on the site of the company or by mail. After the conclusion of the contract and payment for services, the consumer starts to fulfill his part of the technical conditions in preparation for supplying voltage. Belgorodenergo, in turn, is engaged in the design and construction of external power supply networks, and then notifies the applicant of the actual readiness for connection.

Every year despite the difficult economic conditions, Belgorod power engineers connect to networks more than 10 thousand electrical installations of applicants, of which about 10-12 are large, with customer contract demand exceeding 670 kW. Among them present at the meeting there was a representative of CJSC "Pig Farm Korocha" of the agricultural holding "Miratorg" producing nationwide up to 12% of primary processed meat per year. Today the company is a participant of the state program of development of agriculture, demands about 12.5 MW, but in the plans - the further development of production. In the start-up Belgorodenergo a few years ago already reconstructed the 110 kV Substation "Korocha", regular upgrading of the facility to increase capacity of power plants is planned for the next year.

"In order to provide the necessary power reserve for the implementation of such ambitious projects as the agro-industrial production of "Miratorg", the power engineers need to synchronize their actions with consumers, to understand the prospects of a particular industry and potentially implemented business programs," stressed head of grid connections of the company Timur Glushko. "Our task is in any case not to kill an interesting idea or important initiative with big money, so if necessary we are ready to adjust and to revise our plans, providing the required reliability and requested capacity for new projects."

An important issue that was discussed in details was grid connection of socially significant public institutions in the region, for the connection of which this year 268 million rubles of investment funds were allocated. Among the priority projects there are 18 kindergartens and 7 schools, 6 hospitals, 2 fitness centres and 2 cultural institutions that require electricity to be provided as soon as possible. "The main thing in this matter is to establish an algorithm of interaction that contributes to the deadlines of construction of social facilities both regarding its design, and the issue of technical conditions, and then the performance of contractual obligations," underlined Timur Glushko.

Representatives of the inter-regional public organization "The development of a society of social justice" drew attention to the need to promote import substitution, including in the area of ​​preferential grid connection. From October 1 this year benefits for applicants of small and medium businesses with a maximum power of 150 kW are to come into force. The cost of connection for them is to be reduced at the expense of 50 per cent limit of the investment component in the cost of construction of necessary power supply facilities.

As for the Belgorod region, it was only this year that more than 1.1 billion rubles of investment funds will be spent on power supply of new greenhouses and dairy farms, creameries, enterprises of meat processing, grain drying plants, etc. At the same time thanks to the assistance of the regional government, new businesses are located near available feeding centres, which simplifies the construction of the necessary infrastructure, and ultimately affects the reduction of fees and terms of connection.

Representatives of the horticultural were interested in the procedure of connection to the networks of both the societies, and individual country houses, located on their territory. All questions, ranging from how to apply for a connection of a member of dacha non-profit associations and citizens living or doing individual farming on their premises, the Government of the Russian Federation explained in the 219th Resolution. Now their electrical installations can be connected to networks using the public infrastructure, which means that a power company does not need to install a separate power line for each case, cluttering the territory of the societies. And all growers both members of a partnership and living in its territory have the full right to use the common power grid assets. The latter is enough to conclude an agreement on the use of the electric grid infrastructure and present a copy at the conclusion of the grid connection contract.

At the end of the round table the representatives of the grid company reminded the consumers of the importance of the correct determination of the customer contract demand and the need for timely implementation of their part of the technical conditions. This will eliminate unnecessary costs of physical and time resources to prepare the grid infrastructure, which then remains unused, and increase the efficiency of the company in terms of new connections.