Govt says 2-3 Russian grid cos could switch to RAB tariffs in 2010
MOSCOW. Sept 9 (Interfax) - Two or three Russian grid companies could switch to Regulatory Asset Base (RAB) tariffs in 2010, to be followed by more in 2011-2012, a spokesman for First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov told Interfax.
This pace of transition to RAB tariffs was approved at a meeting that Shuvalov chaired on Tuesday.
The schedule for the transition is subject to further endorsement soon.
The transition to RAB will involve increased responsibility on the part of grid companies for the quality of their services, the spokesman said.
The grid companies that will be first to switch to RAB have not officially been announced. Sources have told Interfax that they expect the Federal Grid Company (FGC) to be one of them. The transition to RAB could accelerate the pace of electricity tariff growth in 2010 for industry, to 6.2% from a planned 5%.