Russia to limit power supply in Moscow due to new wave of freeze

Moscow (Platts)--2Feb2006

Russia's power monopoly UES is to start limiting electricity supply to
non-essential industries in Moscow city and the region Thursday evening in a
move to avoid possible blackouts while the city is facing a new wave of below
average temperatures, the company said Thursday.

    "With outdoor temperatures falling again, energy conservation measures
will be introduced in the Moscow energy system between 5pm and 8pm today,"
UES said. 

     UES will limit power supplies to non-essential industrial consumers at a
time of peak loads in order to secure stable power supply to the residents and
vital municipal services such as hospitals, schools, the police and the metro.
Taking into account the supply restrictions which are set to save up to 300MW,
power consumption in the region is expected at 15,900MW during the
evening peak loads, UES said. 

     Cold weather returned to the region earlier this week. Russia's
meteorological center forecasts the temperature to fall to minus 22 degrees
Celsius Thursday evening and further to minus 25 degrees during next several
days. 
     UES introduced emergency restrictions on power consumption between Jan 17
and 25 when Moscow power demand was 16,200MW, up from the 14,500MW at
usual temperatures. Record-breaking cold weather then came with a cold front
from West Siberia where temperature dropped to minus 50 C. At the time,
temperature in Moscow plummeted below minus 30 degrees Celsius.

     In late November, UES head Anatoly Chubais said that consumers in Moscow
might have their power cut if the temperature in the city remained at minus 25
C for three consecutive days. Moscow may face insufficient power capacity
due to soaring demand and outdated infrastructure, he said. 

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