Moscow, 2 December 2004. In the eleven months of 2004, the power plants of RAO "UES of Russia" increased generation of electricity year-on-year by 2.5% to 585.5 billion kWh from 571.4 billion kWh. Thus, the Holding Company's enterprises ensured an increase in energy consumption. In January to November 2004, energy consumption throughout Russia totalled 816.7 billion kWh, up 2.2% on the same period of 2003.

In the eleven months of 2004, hydroelectric power plants generated 120.1 billion kWh, which represents a year-on-year increase of 13.8% from 105.5 billion kWh. During the period under review, the thermal power plants of RAO "UES of Russia" generated 465.4 billion kWh of electricity, which is nearly the same level as in the corresponding period of 2003 (465.9 billion kWh).

The power plants of RAO "UES of Russia" generated 58.7 billion kWh in November 2004, a figure comparable with the same period last year. In November, the electricity consumption in Russia totalled 82.6 billion kWh, which represents an increase of 0.7% on November 2003 (82.0 billion kWh).

The Holding Company's hydroelectric power plants generated 9.7 billion kWh of electricity during the month, which represents an increase of 5.4% compared to November 2003 (9.2 billion kWh). The thermal power plants of RAO "UES of Russia" reduced their production of electricity by 1.2% to 49.0 billion kWh from 49.6 billion kWh in November last year.

The increase electricity production by hydropower plants was due to the higher stream flow of the Volga-Kama and Angara-Yenisey reservoir system, which made it possible to increase the load of the HPPs and reduce the generation targets for some thermal power plants of RAO "UES of Russia".