Moscow. 18 January 2006. Today the System Operator's dispatch center in the Moscow operating area announced a "high-risk" situation in the energy system, which means a special procedure imposing an obligation on the dispatching staff, in the event that the situation in the energy system becomes abnormally complicated, to carry out organizational and technological measures aimed at increasing the UES reliability.

The high-risk situation was due to the continuing abnormally low temperatures in the Moscow region and the associated increase in energy consumption. In addition, the restrictions imposed by Gazprom on the supply of natural gas to the power plants in the European part of Russia (by up to 50%), which caused the power plants to switch to the reserve fuels, and made it more difficult to operate equipment and manage electricity modes.

According to the internal rules and regulations of RAO "UES of Russia", announcement of a high-risk situation must be accompanied with increased control over equipment operation, performance of extraordinary inspections, immediate termination of repairs at power facilities, bringing on line the power grid and generation equipment undergoing repairs, as soon as practicable. Also, the high-risk situation means that a ban is imposed on scheduled work to change the operational status of power transmission lines, and to mobilize the reserves to load (unload) the generation facilities at the Moscow region-based power plants.

Currently, the dispatching staff of the Moscow operating area are performing additional calculations of energy system operation modes so that to be able, in case of need, to more efficiently take decisions on adjusting the dispatching schedules.

In a high-risk operation mode, communication among dispatchers is maintained at all times, and information is exchanged with senior technical officers of the Moscow Region's generation and electricity grid companies. Besides, the energy companies cooperate with the local authorities and emergency services. Besides, the Emergency Management Center formed by the dispatching center's senior officers is engaged in forecasting of the emergency development, informing industry participants and energy consumers of possible disruptions in the energy system and supply of power, and the need to take preventive measures.