The Russian government allowed the regional authorities to independently determine the maximum energy consumption rates at preferential tariffs. For the calculations, the corresponding training manuals will soon be issued. According to Kommersant, this permission was sought by the power industry, referring to the development of cryptocurrency mining in the residential sector. Now the regions will be able to independently determine the amount of energy consumption that citizens must meet, and set increased electricity tariffs when it is exceeded. In addition, the regions received the right to independently determine tariffs for certain groups of the population.
Until now, only Crimea and Sevastopol were allowed to independently regulate the issues of electricity consumption. For example, this year in Crimea at a preferential rate, the cost of 1 kW • h is 3.3 rubles with a consumption of no more than 150 kW • h per month, up to 800 kW • h - 4.2 rubles, from 800 kW • h - 5, 53 rubles. At the same time, according to Kommersant, at the moment in Russia “in apartment buildings and the private sector, the share of the category of consumers with a consumption of more than 600 kW • h per month is about 40% of the total volume”. Sources of the publication assume that the volume of energy consumption will be higher than the previously recommended by the Government norms of 300 kWh and 500 kWh per month. At the same time, the invited experts consider it logical to set the rate of energy consumption at the level of average household consumption - 250 kWh per month.
In response to the request of the publication, the FAS assured that the changes would not entail an increase in tariffs for the population. They were adopted so that the head of the region could "suppress abuse by consumers who use the established preferential electricity tariffs." Electricity tariffs will still be determined by the state. In turn, the Federal Antimonopoly Service will monitor the established volumes of energy consumption.
The Russian energy market regulator Market Council and the Energy Consumers Community supported the Government's decision. They are confident that the introduced measure will protect the preferential tariffs for the population from commercial use and reduce the motivation for the misuse of subsidized electricity for commercial gain.
It is worth noting that the Russian authorities are still struggling to decide what to do with cryptocurrencies and mining. The Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Energy and the State Duma have already advocated the legalization of mining, including due to problems with energy overruns. There are no relevant regulations in Russian legislation so far, so power engineers have to push through the courts to raise tariffs for mining farms. The authorities plan to finally decide on this issue during the spring session from January 10 to July 31, 2022, but the Central Bank is already actively speaking out against cryptocurrencies and is negotiating with banks to ban some operations with them.
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