The Federal Antimonopoly Service is exploring a shift that would let grid operators include the unpaid charges of bankrupt guarantee suppliers in the tariffs for electricity transmission. Rosseti has voiced support for the proposal, estimating that the accumulated arrears from bankrupt state enterprises approach 20 billion rubles.
The proposal, reported in industry coverage, highlights that a large portion of overdue payments to Rosseti originates in regions such as Tver, Arkhangelsk, Vologda, and Tuva. If adopted, the change would also enable the energy holding to recover debts from subsidiaries that previously engaged in sales activities in the North Caucasus.
Rosseti argues that addressing the debt legacy of bankrupt state-owned entities that has built up over years is the correct course of action for the sector.
One unnamed company employee told the publication that these funds were intended for the upkeep and expansion of electricity networks but were diverted from circulation through questionable sales practices.
The FAS clarified that the approved costs for compensating the SOE debts could be incorporated into a prescribed list of depreciation expenses and could, in subsequent periods, be excluded from the required gross income.
Opposition to the plan has come from the Energy Consumers Community, which contends that such debts stem from oversight failures by regulators and grid operators. They warn that consumers should not bear the burden of these written-off losses a second time.
Earlier in the year, Russians discussed where to turn if an electric bill arrives incorrect, reflecting ongoing concerns about tariff fairness and billing accuracy in the sector.
There have also been prior discussions in Russia about confiscation of apartments tied to housing and communal services arrears, illustrating broader tensions around debt collection and consumer protections within public utilities.