The development of electrical networks in Yekaterinburg seems inadequate to meet the growing demands of the rapidly expanding city. Some substations were actually quite overloaded last winter and, if the winter of 2006/2007 proves just as cold (the average of - 30 degrees centigrade), some dwellings, boiling houses, and other socially important buildings may have power cuts, reports the spokesperson for Yekaterinburg Electrical Network Company.

One way of preventing these contingencies may be cutting down on electricity supplies to some enterprises for the harshest winter periods. The company’s experts suggested that 20 local businesses that use the most heavily loaded substations should think up some electricity-saving tips. Six companies have already responded, saying that the proposal seems reasonable, these being TTU Unitary Enterprise, Coca-Cola HBC Eurasia Ltd., Power Engineering Company of Radio Equipment Plant CJSC, V.V. Vorovskoy Machine Building Works CJSC, Sverdlovsk Plant of Plaster Goods JSC, and Yekaterinburg Non-Ferrous Metals Processing Plant.

The management of Yekaterinburg Electrical Network Company believes that the other businesses will take their recommendations seriously and understand the importance of steps that should provide reliable electricity supply to town dwellers in the coming winter.