On December 3, 2019, at the International Electric Networks Forum, a panel discussion "Natural monopoly, Shift in Paradigm" took place.

The event was attended by Egor Prokhorov, Acting Deputy General Director for Strategy, Rosseti Company, Denis Shulakov, First Vice President of Gazprombank JSC, Amos Lasker, Amrav Founding Partner, Chairman of the Smart Energy Association (ISEA), Vladimir Matison, Deputy Technical Director for Digitalization of RPE EKRA Ltd, Anton Poryadin, Head of Strategy for CIS Countries in the Ernst&Young, Vladimir Potapov, VTB Capital Investment JSC Chief Executive Officer, Sergey Lebedev, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Market Council Association.

The panel discussion participants talked about steps that a state-owned company should take to attract investment, taking into account the specifics of functioning in the present-day conditions, and what the functioning model and management structure for the effective solution of strategic development tasks should be.

It was noted that world experience in the development of the electric power industry indicated the gradual movement of various countries along the path of expanding the role of private corporations that were called up to ensure the market situation in the industry.

Current global trends in the world, the rapid change in the Russian industry, the ongoing competition in the electricity distribution segment, the obligations undertaken by the company within the framework of the adopted Digital Transformation until 2030 concept - all this creates serious challenges for Rosseti and makes it necessary to rethink the functioning models.

Egor Prokhorov noted that the status of a natural monopoly is an advantage provided that the business processes are timely transformed under circumstances that change. “We must hear our consumer and give the product that people expect from us,” he said. In speaking about the main trends in the development of the electric power industry, Egor Prokhorov noted three areas: decentralization i.e. a change in demand for infrastructure, electrification i.e. a change in needs for infrastructure, and digital transformation i.e. the transition from standardized technologies to digital ones. 

The panelists were unanimous that the Russian power industry is one of the most interesting industries in terms of investment. Rosseti refers to those companies that need to be looked at in the market not only through the prism of Russia. Courage shall be found to look from another aspect. In the global perspective, there are not so many companies like Rosseti,” Denis Shulakov said.