OREANDA-NEWS. April 13, 2010. The Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the North Ossetia-Alania Republic (the North Ossetia OFAS Russia) found that "North Caucasus MRSK" OJSC violated Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" (which prohibits abusing market dominance). The company violated the law by unlawfully applying to small capacity facilities the rate for technical connection that was several times higher than 550 Rubles - the fee for connecting energy receivers with maximum capacity up to 15 kW, approved by a Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

The North Ossetia OFAS Russia discovered that "North Caucasus MRSK" OJSC charged economic entities, who applied to the North Ossetia branch of the company for technological connection of small-capacity energy receivers (1- 5 kW), 4975 Rubles per 1 kW (w/o VAT). Therefore the fee for technological connection varied from 5870.50 to 29352.50 Rubles.

Under the Rules for technological connection of energy receivers of legal entities and physical persons to electricity networks, approved by a Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation, the fee for technological connection of energy receivers with maximum capacity no more than 15 kW cannot exceed 550 Rubles. This sum covers the scope of work required for technological connection.

The North Ossetia OFAS Russia emphasizes that technological connection fee is charged for receives commissioner for the first time, or early connected energy receivers that are being reconstructed and their connected capacity is increased. The fee is also charged if energy receivers have already been connected but there are changes in reliability category of energy supply, connection point, or types of production activities that do not alter production capacity but change the scheme of external energy supply for such receivers. The fee can only be charged once, regardless of any changes in the form of property or the owner.

The North Ossetia OFAS Russia issued a determination to "North Caucasus MRSK" OJSC to eliminate the consequences of the violations.