OREANDA-NEWS. The Board of Directors of RAO "UES of Russia" approved the schedule of auctions to sell shares in energy retail companies (ERCs), which will be announced in March 2007.

At the auctions, shares in the following companies will be put up for sale:
OAO "Belgorod Retail Company",
OAO "Vologda Energy Retail Company";
OAO "Kolskaya Energy Retail Company";
OAO "Kuban Energy Retail Company";
OAO "Kuzbass Energy Retail Company";
OAO "Nizhny Novgorod Retail Company";
OAO "Orenburgenergosbyt";
OAO "Sverdlovenergosbyt".

The auction dates are expected to be announced in March 2007 and held in April 2007.
 
The ERC sale will significantly increase the number of independent energy retailers employing advanced methods of retailing, expand the range of services and improve the quality of services provided by them owing to the growing market competition among the retailers.