General Characteristics of the Power Industry and Its Components

Russia boasts a strong power industry, which evolved principally in the Soviet era. As of January 1, 1991, the installed capacity of domestic power plants was 348,000 MW, and electricity production in 1990 was 1728 bln kWh.

Structural change in the electric energy sector in the post-Soviet period led to the establishment in 1992 of a Russian joint-stock electricity and electrification company, RAO EES [Unified Energy Systems] of Russia. Added to its authorized capital were large thermal power plants with capacities of 1000 MW or higher, hydroelectric power plants with capacities of 500 MW or higher, high-voltage trunk lines that form the single power grid of the Russian Federation, central and regional dispatching offices, R&D institutions, and part of the shares of regional joint-stock energy and electrification companies (AO-Energos), which grew out or regional energy systems. Two regional energy systems did not form part of Unified Energy Systems, OAO Irkutskenergo being incorporated as an independent player, and POEE Tatenergo remaining state-owned with the status of a state unitary enterprise. Apart from regional joint-stock electricity and electrification companies (AO-Energos), thirty power stations were incorporated as independent joint-stock power stations, or AO-Electrostations.

There are 74 energy systems (AO-Energos) in the Russian Federation, which include 72 AO-Energos that form part of the holding Unified Energy Systems, plus OAO Irkutskenergo and POEE Tatenergo.

All AO-Energos are part of seven integrated power systems (IPSs), of which six work in parallel (the Center, Middle Volga, Urals, Northwest, North Caucasus, and Siberia IPSs) and the East IPS, operating separately from the Siberia IPS.

Russian nuclear power plants are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Atomic Energy of the Russian Federation. Of the ten nuclear power plants of Russia (including the Rostov NPP, which was put in operation in April 2001), nine are supervised by an umbrella enterprise, the Russian State Concern for Electricity and Heat Production at Nuclear Plants, or Rosenergoatom, which was formed in 1992. The Leningrad NPP, an independent operator, reports directly to the Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy.