OAO Mosenergo is investigating the operations of GRES-3 at the time of a breach in a municipal heating main in Elektrostal on February 23, 2007. The actions of the on-duty shift at the power plant in averting an emergency have been judged highly professional.

According to S.A. Pronin, Technical Audit Director at OAO Mosenergo, at 7.40 in the morning on February 23, due to an accident in a municipal heating main, the pressure in the return manifold block of the heating network fell to the critical level, which could have damaged the network pumps and cut heat circulation to the entire city.

As Pronin noted, prompt shutdown of the peak-load hot water boiler and effective cooperation with public utilities, operations staff at GRES-3 were able to prevent an emergency, ensure an uninterrupted heat supply to the city’s 3rd and 4th microdistricts (population of more than 20 000), maintain the power generation schedule, and eliminate the breach as quickly as possible.

The breach in the heating main belonging to Elektrostal’s public utilities occurred on the night of February 23, leaving more than 40 000 residents without heat. An emergency team from the Moscow Region public utilities was able to restore heat by the evening of February 23.