Deputy Economy Minister comments on energy tariffs

The state will retain the right to set the maximum level of electricalenergy tariffs, Andrey Sharonov, Deputy Economy Minister, declared at ameeting of the tripartite conciliatory commission on bills on restructuringthe energy sector. He stressed that amendments to these bills, that wouldbe considered by the government in the near future, concerned theregulation of maximal to minimal levels of electrical energy tariffs.However when a competitive energy market is organized, tariffs for definitesuppliers will not be set, only the maximum and minimum levels of thesetariffs will be stipulated, he noted. Amendments also concern the broadening of regional rights to regulateenergy tariffs. In particular, the federal center will retain thepossibility to cancel or change decisions of Russian regions and republicswho are to get a number of rights regarding tariff regulations, the DeputyMinister specified..