Moscow, 22 September 2004. Today, a new control centre for the energy systems of Altay Kray and the Republic of Altay has been put into pilot operation by the Altay Regional Dispatch Administration (RDA).

The installation of the new control equipment became necessary because the existing facilities, which were put into service in 1975, have become worn-out and obsolescent.

In accordance with the preliminary arrangements, the project was funded by OAO "Altayenergo", and the facilities will be subsequently purchased by OAO "UES SO-CDA". The investments in the project totalled about RUB15 million.

According to expert opinion, this control centre is the most modern one in Siberia. Sergey Spiridonov, Director of Altay RDA, said that the control centre makes it possible to capture (at 1-second intervals) and process dozens of thousands of parameters from the 64 electric power facilities located in Altay Kray and the Republic of Altay, and to monitor the state of controlled devices–transmission lines, generators, and transformers.

According to Mr. Spiridonov, the central telecommunication complex has many features, besides the standard functions of a telephone exchange, such as availability of 80 direct dispatching lines. This provides advanced facilities for ensuring the most economical modes, prompt and efficient response in addressing emergencies, and, ultimately, improved quality and reliability of electricity supply to consumers.

The technical upgrade and development of the production facilities at the RDAs is carried out in accordance with the general investment policy of OAO "UES SO-CDA". In 2004, the North-Caucasian RDA installed a state-of-the art control centre featuring display cubes. Work is underway to replace the control centres in Omsk RDA, Chelyabinsk RDA, Chuvash RDA, Kuban RDA, Rostov RDA, Nizhny Novgorod RDA, and Tula RDA.